The University of Louisiana at Lafayette’s College of Liberal Arts has launched a new Common Book series for the 2025-26 academic year, designed to encourage shared reading and discussion across the campus community.
The inaugural selection is Ernest J. Gaines’ “A Lesson Before Dying,” a critically acclaimed novel recognized for its cultural and moral depth. The book was chosen for its strong regional ties and for its exploration of themes central to the University’s values, including justice, education and community.
Throughout the year, the college will host a series of events, including book clubs and community discussions, open to all members of the UL Lafayette community. The first conversation, held on Oct. 15 in Griffin Hall 315, featured Dr. David Khey, head of the Department of Criminal Justice, who discussed the novel’s portrayal of the criminal justice system. A second conversation, scheduled for Nov. 5 in the same location, will feature Dr. Shelley Ingram, Dr. Doris Meriwether/BORSF Professor of Folklore, who will explore cultural foodways.
Dr. Ani Kokobobo, dean of the College of Liberal Arts and professor of modern languages, said the Common Book program reflects the college’s commitment to building a vibrant intellectual community on campus.
“We’re envisioning this as an opportunity for us to read together and to think together as an intellectual community and engage together. I think for students, this is another way to engage with a really interesting, important text outside of a classroom setting and talk with each other, perhaps meet people.”
“A Lesson Before Dying” was Gaines’ eighth novel, written when he was 60 years old after a long and successful career as a writer. The book earned national acclaim for its portrayal of life in rural Louisiana, was selected for Oprah’s Book Club in 1997, and won multiple literary awards, including the National Book Critics Circle Award for Fiction. The Ernest J. Gaines Center, located on the UL Lafayette campus, preserves his manuscripts, correspondence and personal archives while supporting teaching, research and community engagement. The center was established to honor Gaines and continues to serve as a hub for studying Southern and African American literature.
Gaines was born in 1933 on a plantation in Pointe Coupee Parish near New Roads, Louisiana. He drew inspiration from his upbringing to create stories that explored human dignity, social justice and the struggles of African Americans in the rural South. Gaines died in 2019 at his home in Oscar, Louisiana, at age 86. President Barack Obama awarded Gaines the 2012 National Medal of Arts and National Humanities Medal during a ceremony at the White House, recognizing his extraordinary contribution to American literature. In addition to his writing, Gaines was a longtime member of the UL Lafayette faculty and served as Writer-in-Residence Emeritus.
“A Lesson Before Dying” centers on Jefferson, a young Black man wrongly convicted of murder in 1940s Louisiana, and Grant Wiggins, a teacher struggling to find meaning in his work and community. Together, their story reflects the power of education and empathy to challenge oppression and inspire change.
By focusing on his work the 2025-26 Common Book series celebrates Ernest J. Gaines’ literary legacy, but also reflects the College of Liberal Arts’ commitment to fostering intellectual engagement and exploring important themes such as justice, education and community. The initiative also opens the door for future Common Book selections, offering opportunities to explore other important works of literature, inspire and bring the campus community together for impactful and enriching conversations.