Super Short Summary

The Autobiography of Miss Jane Pittman by Ernest J. Gaines is a fictional oral narrative set in rural Louisiana, delivered by 110-year-old Jane Pittman, an African-American woman whose life spans from the Civil War to the 1960s Civil Rights movement. The novel follows Jane's experiences from her days as a young enslaved girl, through Reconstruction, and into her elderly years, highlighting her resilience and the significant historical changes she witnesses. The narrative presents a personal and poignant perspective on historical events not commonly found in traditional textbooks. It includes themes of enslavement, racial violence, and discrimination.