Historians and biographers have spent much ink celebrating and interrogating the life and influence of Martin Luther King, Jr. in the 50 years since his assassination on April 4, 1968. Readers interested in learning more about the iconic civil rights hero can choose from a wide range of literary options, from shorter books that provide an overview easily digestible of his life, even multiple books. volume tomes that explore his every action in great detail. while some books take a holistic approach to the man’s life, others focus on sub-themes of his legacy.
In honor of the 50th anniversary of his death, here are 6 books to read about Martin Luther King, Jr:
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martin luther king jr.: a life, by marshall frady (2002)
For those looking for an introductory-level approach to King, Frady’s book, part of the Penguin Lives series of biographies, offers just that. At just over 200 pages, it offers a quick overview of the civil rights leader, from one of the movement’s leading reporters.
the autobiography of martin luther king, jr., edited by clayborne carson (1998)
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In 1985, King’s widow, Coretta Scott King, selected Carson to edit and publish her late husband’s papers. In addition to publishing numerous collections of the king’s speeches, sermons, letters, and drafts, Carson brought these works together to construct a posthumous first-person account of the king’s life.
parting the waters: united states in the years of the king, 1954-63, by taylor branch (1988)
branch won the 1989 pulitzer prize for biography for this tome about the years leading up to the march on washington. Branch went on to write several other volumes for those interested in an especially deep dive into the King’s life, including Pillar of Fire: America in the Years of the King, 1963-65 and On the Brink of Canaan: America in the Years of the King. king, 1965-1968.
The Heavens May Shatter: The Death and Legacy of Martin Luther King Jr., by Jason Sokol (2018)
Sokol’s book (just published in March) focuses on the period immediately after the king’s assassination, when Americans grappled with the loss of a leader of enormous importance, both practical and symbolic. While King is widely admired today, his death in 1968 was met with a wide range of reactions across the country and the world.
the promise and the dream: the untold story of martin luther king, jr. and Robert F. kennedy, by david margolick (2018)
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Many historians have been fascinated by the relationship between King and John F. Kennedy, but here Pulitzer finalist Margolick turns her gaze to King’s relationship with Robert F. Kennedy, a civil rights advocate who formed a relationship with King. their shocking murders occurred just 62 days apart. the book comes out on tuesday.
the seminarian: martin luther king jr. come of age by patrick parr (2018)
Parr takes a close look at King’s years at Crozer Theological Seminary near Chester, Penn., where at age 19 he left the South to live for three years at a majority-white institution, studying with senior seminarians who had had much different experiences of the world. the book was released this easter.
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