King: A Photobiography of Martin Luther King, Jr.

By Charles R. Johnson and Bob Adelman

Book Overview

King is the first true photobiography of a hero's journey. Never before has his life been so richly chronicled from so many different points of view. A powerful collection of photographic images combined with text by National Book Awardwinning writer Charles Johnson detail the pivotal events of King's public life--as well as his family life--in a rich & stirring format. In this book, we see Martin Luther King, Jr., in all his aspects: as son & student, husband & father, powerful preacher & courageous leader of the civil rights movement, martyr for the cause of racial justice, & finally American icon. Photographer Bob Adelman & photo editor Robert Phelan have compiled an impressive & comprehensive array of images depicting this great man's life & times. We see King standing before a packed congregation at the Dexter Baptist Church during the bus boycott in Montgomery, Alabama, or in his own backyard playing with his children. In one moment we observe King peering calmly through the bars of the Birmingham jail after one of his arrests; the next, strapping sandals on the feet of his young daughter. There is the tragic scene in Memphis seconds after his assassination, with anguished witnesses pointing in the direction of the gunshots, & the aftermath in Atlanta, a crush of mourners following his horse-drawn casket through the streets. And of course, the indelible image of King speaking the immortal words "I have a dream..." on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial. Through hundreds of photographs, we see a country being changed, an era & legacy being formed, but above all, we are given a privileged look at the man himself--at his most human & humanitarian.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0670892165
• ISBN13: 9780670892167
• Release Date: November 2000
• Publisher: Avery
• Length: 288 Pages
• Weight: 3.59 lbs.
• Dimensions: 12.5" x 1.0" x 9.3"

Customer Reviews

Absolutely Superb!!!

The words of 1998 MacArthur Fellow Charles Johnson's ccoupled with the poignant photographs of Bob Adelman climax in this excellent literary work that chronicles the life and legacy of the late Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. The wonderful photographs and literary prose compliment each other beautifully throughout this masterpiece, detailing the life and democratic stuggles of King. Beginning from the early childhood of Mr. King to his untimely death, Adelman's photographs depict a very young King with his family. It provides insight into his his upbringing and illustrates the foundation that culminates into the life of the great civil rights leader. It continues to depict his educational pursuits and ultimate marriage to the lovely Coretta Scott. The books carries the reader through the voyage as a young King rises to prominence as a preacher, his continued quest for racial equality, and mainly his persistent call for agapic love in conjunction with nonviolence. Also, shared in this tome is intimate photographs of King's time spent with his loving family and information about King's life that may not be well-known. Although nearly 300-pages, this book capitvates the reader from cover to cover. All in all, Johnson and Adelman are to be commended for their efforts! This liteary piece is nothing short of superb!Reviewed by Nedine Hunter...

A Photo Spectacular

I have many photography books in my personal collection, and I have several on the civil rights movement, but this book is by far the best I have seen. The book combines the work of several photographers - including Alfred Eisenstadt, Charles Moore, Henri Cartier Bresson, plus some lesser knowns - who have been individually recognized for their own work. The photographs are a true documentary of Martin Luther King's life and death with many photos I have never seen before.