Synopses & Reviews
Acclaimed by leading historians and critics when it appeared shortly after the death of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., this foundational biography wends through the corridors in which King held court, posing the right questions and providing a keen measure of the man whose career and mission enthrall scholars and general readers to this day. Updated with a new preface and more than a dozen photographs of King and his contemporaries, this edition presents the unforgettable story of King's life and death for a new generation.
Review
"Shelves devoted to modern American history can't be considered complete without it."--
Booklist"An excellent book that will do more to keep Martin Luther King and his 'dream' alive in a different era than would more fulsome tributes."--Louis R. Harlan, American Historical Review
Review
"A well-researched, clearly written and well-balanced account."--Charles V. Hamilton,
New York Times Book ReviewReview
"Initially published soon after the assassination of Martin Luther King Jr., David Levering Lewis's biography was an extraordinary achievement--a readable narrative full of historical insight. He judiciously illuminates King's achievements while also acknowledging his flaws and limitations. Subsequent studies have provided more detailed accounts of various aspects of King's life, but Lewis's perceptive portrait continues to reward readers seeking to understand King's historical significance." --Clayborne Carson, Director, Martin Luther King Jr. Research and Education Institute
"David Levering Lewis's classic biography of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. captured the voices and feeling of the times in its thoughtful and thorough early review of Dr. King’s legacy. I am deeply grateful it is being introduced to a new generation of readers and commend it to all."--Marian Wright Edelman, President, Children's Defense Fund
About the Author
David Levering Lewis is Julius Silver University Professor and professor of history at New York University. Each volume of his two-volume W. E. B. Du Bois biography won the Pulitzer Prize for Biography. He is the author of eight books and editor of two more.