欧内斯特.J.盖恩斯(Ernest J.Gaines1933—),是当代美国继福克纳之后最有影响力的南方小说家之一,其作品已跻身美国大学必读书目。随着“最近几十年来,美国文学界多种族文学保持了强劲的发展势头”,盖恩斯的作品也愈来愈受关注。爱丽丝.沃克曾在《纽约时报书评》中称其作品“深深植根于并展示了南方黑人丰富的文化遗产”。评论家杰里.布赖恩特撰文称其“以朴实无华的语言及简洁的文风,表达了人类最强烈的激情及由此引发的行为,是当今最富天才的故事讲述者之一”。评论家梅尔文.马多克斯则在《时代》杂志上著文指出他“不但写了过去的奴隶制度,还写了现在的奴隶制度”。盖恩斯自上世纪60年代起发表作品,长篇小说有《凯瑟琳.卡迈尔》、《成自爱、成自土》、《简.皮特曼小姐自传》、《在我父亲家》、《老人会》和《临终一课》等。另有中短篇小说集《血缘》。他的作品曾获多项美国文学大奖,不仅常入选一些知名作品选集,而且还常被拍成电影,如《老人会》、《天是灰蒙蒙的》及其代表作《简.皮特曼小姐自传》等。 Ernest J. Gaines (1933-), one of the most influential Southern novelists after Faulkner in contemporary America, has become a must-read book in American universities. With “the multi-ethnic literature in the American literature has maintained a strong momentum of development in recent decades,” Gaines’s work has drawn increasing attention. Alice Walker once said in The New York Times Book Review that her work “is deeply rooted in and exemplifies the rich cultural heritage of the Negroes in the South.” Critics author Jerry Bryant wrote that “it is one of the most talented storytellers in the world who expresses the strongest passion of mankind and the actions that result from it in simple language and simple style.” Critics Melvin Maddox, in a Time magazine article, state that he “wrote not only the slavery system of the past but also the present slavery system.” Gaines has published works since the 1960s. His novels include Catherine Carmel, Self-love, Self-cultivation, Miss Jane Pittman’s Autobiography, My Father’s Home, Will “and” a lesson “and so on. Another short story collection ”blood.“ His works have won many awards of American literature. They are not only often selected for some well-known works, but also often made into films such as The Old People’s Association, The Day Is Overcast and his masterpiece, Jane Pittman’s autobiography ”Wait.