Description

Explore this comprehensive and compelling biography, praised by historian Jon Meacham, of revered civil rights leader John Lewis—often referred to as “the conscience of Congress.” Through a narrative skillfully woven from exclusive interviews, previously unreleased FBI files, and archived documents, author David Greenberg offers remarkable insights into Lewis’s central role in American history and the civil rights movement.

Born into deep poverty in rural Alabama, John Lewis rose to become one of the most influential and respected figures in the struggle for civil rights, surpassed only by Martin Luther King Jr. in his impact. Lewis was instrumental as a Freedom Rider, bravely working to integrate transportation stations across the segregated South. He emerged as a leading voice during the Nashville sit-ins and delivered a historic speech during the landmark 1963 March on Washington. As the youngest and highly influential speaker at that event, Lewis chaired the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee (SNCC), transforming it into one of the civil rights movement’s major organizations. His bravery shone brightest during the infamous events at Edmund Pettus Bridge in Selma, Alabama, where he endured brutal violence during “Bloody Sunday,” securing his place in American history.

Greenberg’s definitive biography, described by Pulitzer Prize–winning author David J. Garrow as “authoritative,” also traces Lewis’s significant contributions beyond the civil rights era. It emphasizes his pivotal work leading the Voter Education Project, through which he successfully registered millions of African American voters throughout the South. The book explores Lewis’s less publicized political ascent, first within local politics in Atlanta, and later, his long, respected tenure in the U.S. Congress. Admired by colleagues from both political parties, Lewis remained committed throughout his public career to principles of nonviolence, justice, and racial integration.

Drawing on extensive archival research, interviews with 275 individuals who personally knew Lewis, and rare video footage of Lewis himself—including powerful scenes filmed in his hospital bed after the violence at Selma—David Greenberg offers fresh, groundbreaking insights into John Lewis’s personal and professional relationships. This biography stands as the definitive account of an extraordinary leader whose courage and dedication profoundly shaped a new era of freedom in American society.