ernest james gaines (january 15, 1933 – november 5, 2019) was an american writer. he was born in pointe coupee, louisiana. his best known works were "a lesson before dying", "the autobiography of miss jane pittman" and "a gathering of old men". he won the won the national book critics circle award for fiction. he was added into the "ordre des arts et des lettres" (order of arts and letters) as a chevalier.