American Death
New York Times–Bestselling Author: “Frank’s reconstruction of Dr. [Martin Luther] King’s murder and its aftermath is remarkably convincing.” —The New York Times
Written by two-time Edgar Award winner Gerold Frank, An American Death examines the infamous 1968 assassination of the legendary civil rights leader in Memphis, Tennessee, in vivid, extensive detail. Frank casts a light on historical truth and builds a coherent narrative of events amid the chaos and conspiracy theories that surround Dr. King’s murder. The author recounts the details of April 4, and delves into the shocking events leading up to the fateful day, including James Earl Ray’s background and escape from prison, and the manhunt and quest for justice that followed the killing, in this riveting account of a crime that shook a nation.
“Provide[s] insight into James Earl Ray and the rather squalid world from which he emerged . . . persuasively argued.” —Worldview
“Frank’s picture of Ray . . . is remarkable.” —Time
Includes photographs
Gerold Frank
Gerold Frank (1907–1998) was a bestselling author, reporter, and war correspondent. His career ranged widely, from covering World War II and the plight of European Jews, to publishing true-crime sensations, to pioneering a new literary art form: the “as-told-to” celebrity biography. A prolific ghostwriter, he formed intimate collaborations with the biggest stars of Hollywood’s Golden Age, including Judy Garland, Zsa Zsa Gabor, and Rita Hayworth. As a journalist and author, Frank secured extraordinary access, embedding with the Anglo-American Committee of Inquiry on Palestine, and later with the Massachusetts Attorney General’s Boston Strangler Task Force during its investigation of the infamous serial killings. Several of his books became films, including “The Boston Strangler,” starring Tony Curtis and Henry Fonda. Frank won Edgar Awards for The Boston Strangler and The Deed. Other bestsellers included Judy, the only biography of Judy Garland written with the full cooperation of her family and closest confidants, and An American Death, about the assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
