60 pages • 2 hours read
Jonathan EigKing: A Life
Nonfiction | Biography | Adult | Published in 2023A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more.
Before You Read
Super Short Summary
King: A Life by Jonathan Eig chronicles the life of Martin Luther King Jr., starting from his early years in a stable home in Atlanta, through his education and rise as a civil rights leader in Montgomery, Alabama. The biography details King's significant civil rights campaigns, including the Montgomery Bus Boycott and the March on Washington, his struggles against systemic injustice, and his tragic assassination in Memphis, Tennessee, in 1968. The book includes accounts of racism and racial violence.
Reviews & Readership
Review Roundup
Jonathan Eig’s King: A Life offers a detailed and nuanced biography of Martin Luther King Jr., blending thorough research with engaging narrative. Critics praise its comprehensive insights and balanced portrayal. However, some note its dense prose might challenge casual readers. Overall, a compelling but demanding read about a pivotal figure in American history.
Who Should Read King: A Life?
A reader who would enjoy King: A Life by Jonathan Eig is likely to be an avid history buff, especially with an interest in civil rights, biographies, or American history. Comparable to readers of Taylor Branch's Parting the Waters and David Garrow's Bearing the Cross, this audience values detailed, well-researched accounts of pivotal figures and moments in history.