Did Martin Luther King Jr. deserve the praise heaped upon him or was he a media creation, carried along by forces beyond his control? This new biography of the most celebrated African American in history provides a thorough re-examination of both the man and the Civil Rights Movement, showing how King grew into his leadership role and kept his faith when the movement weakened after 1965. Drawing on recent scholarship on the Civil Rights Movement, this volume condenses research previously only available in larger literature. Peter Ling's crisp and fluent style captures the drama, irony and pathos of King's life and provides an excellent introduction for both students and general readers.