March 13, 2025
Explore the Pulitzer Prize-Winning Biography of Martin Luther King, Jr.
Jonathan Eig will take the stage to talk about his Pulitzer Prize-winning biography, King: A Life, the first major biography written in decades about civil rights icon Martin Luther King Jr. Vividly written and deeply researched, this revealing portrait by a master storyteller is an intimate view of the courageous and often emotionally troubled human being who demanded peaceful protest for his movement but was rarely at peace with himself. He casts fresh light on his family’s origins as well as his complex relationships with his wife, father, and fellow activists. In this landmark biography that draws from recently declassified FBI documents, Eig gives us an MLK whose demands for racial and economic justice remain as urgent today as they were in his lifetime.
Jonathan Eig is a former senior writer for The Wall Street Journal and the New York Times bestselling author of Ali: A Life, Luckiest Man: The Life and Death of Lou Gehrig, and Opening Day: The Story of Jackie Robinson's First Season. Ken Burns calls him "a master storyteller."
Guest host is Rochelle Riley, director of Arts and Culture for the City of Detroit. She formerly worked as an award-winning, nationally syndicated columnist for 20 years and has been inducted into the Michigan Journalism Hall of Fame, North Carolina Journalism Hall of Fame, and the National Association of Black Journalists Hall of Fame. Her books include That They Lived: African Americans Who Changed The World and The Burden: African Americans and the Enduring Impact of Slavery.
Doors open at 6 p.m. with live music and a cash bar, and the conversation begins at 7 p.m. This presentation includes a Q&A session with both the live and livestream audience, and an author signing event following in the lobby. Please note: books are not available to pick up prior to this live event.
Which Ticket Package to Choose?
If you and a partner or friend are attending together and only need one book to share, choose our Two-Tickets/One-Book package.
About Our Book Sales
One of the most exciting parts of attending our events is getting a signed copy of the author's latest book along with the chance to meet the writer and have them personalize it after the show.
Each sale benefits our local partner Horizon Books in downtown Traverse City, Michigan. The bundled price of National Writers Series books is always 20 percent below retail, so you also get a great deal.
If you already own the featured book, the one you receive with your ticket makes a great gift for friends and family. Or you can donate it back to us at the National Writers Series, and we'll distribute it to libraries and young writers in Northern Michigan.
We think a new book is one of the greatest joys of life, and we thank you for helping us make Traverse City one of the premiere destinations for authors through our book sales.
Virtual Option
Even if you can’t make it to the City Opera House, you can still enjoy National Writers Series events from the comfort of your own home on event night or later on-demand when it’s more convenient. If you would like to purchase a virtual ticket, please go to www.nationalwritersseries.org for ticketing information.