Death of a King

The Real Story of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s Final Year

By: Tavis Smiley, David Ritz

Narrated by: Tavis Smiley

Length: 6 hrs and 15 mins

Publisher's Summary

A revealing and dramatic chronicle of the 12 months leading up to Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.'s assassination. 

Martin Luther King, Jr. died in one of the most shocking assassinations the world has known, but little is remembered about the life he led in his final year. New York Times best-selling author and award-winning broadcaster Tavis Smiley recounts the final 365 days of King's life, revealing the minister's trials and tribulations - denunciations by the press, rejection from the president, dismissal by the country's Black middle class and militants, assaults on his character, ideology, and political tactics, to name a few - all of which he had to rise above in order to lead and address the racism, poverty, and militarism that threatened to destroy our democracy. 

Smiley's Death of a King paints a portrait of a leader and visionary in a narrative different from all that have come before. Here is an exceptional glimpse into King's life - one that adds both nuance and gravitas to his legacy as an American hero.

PLEASE NOTE: When you purchase this title, the accompanying reference material will be available in your My Library section along with the audio.

©2014 Tavis Smiley and David Ritz (P)2014 Hachette Audio

Critic Reviews

" Death of a King is a fitting climax to a noble saga. It is here adequately told and placed before history." (Reverend Gardner C. Taylor)
"Tavis Smiley has captured not only the spirit of the movement, but the Spirit of Martin Luther King, Jr. in his last days. We didn't realize it but he knew he was on his way to Jerusalem, and as much as we tried to deter him, he fought back." (Andrew Young, United States ambassador to the United Nations and former mayor of Atlanta)
"One of the most important political voices of his generation." ( The Philadelphia Inquirer)

An important book

What made the experience of listening to Death of a King the most enjoyable?

This is a fascinating piece of history, read with simple conviction by the author. I could not imagine a different narrator.

Sad but compelling....

The last year of King's life was overfull of hard times....both enemies and friends criticized him relentlessly. He began his campaign against the war in Vietnam, and the president who had helped Blacks gain civil rights was astounded because suddenly King was opposing him. So he fought back. And many of King's supporters and friends were adamantly opposed to King dividing his focus by taking on the war while still seeking equality for Blacks. King was under constant stress...at times he wept...at times he thought of quitting his work at the national level and retiring to a little church in the South, or even accepting an invitation to a church in the UK. Thoughts of death as well as threats of death were constantly with him. The story of his last year is one of a man pushing the boulder up the hill and suffering for every inch. It is a sad story, but it is a compelling story. Maybe we all need to know the story in order to fully honor King. The book is read by the author and he does an excellent job.

An amazing tribute to the King Legacy

What made the experience of listening to Death of a King the most enjoyable?

The real story of King's final year will send chills down your spine, the betrayal by friends and the media, the depression, the imperfections of MLK and eventually the regicide give readers/listeners a tragic look into the life of one of Americas most heroic leaders.

Have you listened to any of Tavis Smiley’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

This was his first performance

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

The book made me aware and put me at peace with the real legacy of MLK

Just what I needed

I'm very glad I got this book. I like the style & the story. Very insightful. I'm going to do more research on the poverty campaign mentioned.

Completely engaging, edifying and entertaining

What did you love best about Death of a King?

I loved the pace of the book, the amount of context that TS provides, the insight into the characters and the motivations of each.

Who was your favorite character and why?

Of course, MLK.

Which scene was your favorite?

I don't have a particular favorite, but what struck me most forcefully was the evolving recognition that his spiritual commitment to peace related to his feeling about the war and about Negro civil rights.

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

The book made me laugh many times, MLK had a great sense of humor. The quotes from many of the speeches made me cry. They were deeply spiritual and moving. His death, of course and the reading of the eulogy that MLK wrote for another fallen civil rights leader, made me cry from sadness and awe.

Any additional comments?

I have always known that MLK was a Reverend and a civil rights leader, but I had never read anything that so clearly linked his ever-evolving relationship to God with his views about Negro (as he referred to it) civil rights and about Vietnam. This book did a great job chronicling this spiritual path without being a "religious" text. It was also astounding to me to read about how reviled MLK was by the Black community leadership and by the press at the time of his death, all of this has faded from our minds. Thank you TS for reminding us about how far advanced MLK was in his spiritual path and how little we understood about his inner journey and where he had arrived at at the time of his death. I also loved TS's voice reading- thank you TS for reading this yourself! Yours was the perfect voice to share this good news, it lent authenticity and conveyed deep love and commitment.

A stirring and poignant testament.

I was moved and edified buy the beautifully rendered portrait of this mighty man. His sacrifice and bravery further emphasizes that this ugly world of white supremacy never deserved his beauty or his blood.

More than I have a dream

Wow. A different era than my own. A different perspective than mass media's perspective on a life well lived. Infamy always through those who remembers the figures. A different and hugely important narrative much needed. An awakening to More than having a dream.

A must read/listen to

One of my favorite audio books I’ve ever listened to so far. Wish it was longer honestly but will definitely listen to over again

Must read/listening!

Travis Smiley provided great insight on an outstanding leader during turbulent times. This is an outstanding history/leadership lesson.

Inspiring & enlightening!

Really illuminates Dr King's crystal clear vision and obsession with not only racial equality, but the other two heads of the same monster, poverty and militarism.
Very good. Highly recommend.

An fascinating and moving account of his last year

I always loved and respect led Dr King. He was much more than I Have a Dream. Travis Smiley wrote and narrated a moving and fascinating account of his last year.