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skitch41's review
5.0
The Civil Rights movement was one of the greatest movements in American history. Like other social movements of the past, a groundswell of people stood up to demand more from their government than they had ever received before. Sadly, like other social movements of the past, the Civil Rights movement would become a victim of its own success as movement leaders either burned out or became more radical after foot-dragging by the federal government. Disagreements within the leadership over tactics and the Vietnam war would also do its part to tear the movement apart. Nobly, though, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., though exhausted by the end, would stick to his principles of nonviolence right up until his tragic assassination. Taylor Branch does an amazing job showing us how the Civil Rights movement reached the pinnacle of its power and influence with the Selma March for voting rights in 1965 and then slowly come apart by the time of Dr. King's death.
In terms of structure, this book occupies a kind of middle ground between the first and second volumes in this series. The average chapter length is about 20 pages or so, with the last chapters being some of the longest. But this volume is not nearly as long in narrative length as the first volume, nor is it as short as the second. While this entire series, including this book, are a tough slog, it is not as daunting as it might seem at first glance. And like the previous two volumes, Mr. Branch gives an extraordinary amount of detail. This series truly is the definitive account of this seminal moment in American history.
This volume starts with the Selma March for voting rights and offers a definitive account of that time. And while Dr. King and his allies would achieve a great victory with the passage of the Voting Rights Act of 1965, the seeds for the movements slow downfall were visible underneath the surface during the march. Dr. King's allies in SNCC and elsewhere were beginning to doubt his leadership and commitment to nonviolence. And figures like Stokely Carmichael, who would push the movement in a more aggressive direction, would first make their appearances on the national stage. Mr. Branch deals with the myriad of issues, like "Black Power" and the urban riots of the period, deftly with a great deal of nuance. He also documents the movements growing cracks thanks to Vietnam and young leaders' dissatisfaction with the slow pace of integration. All of this would weigh heavily on Dr. King, who slowly but surely becomes more exhausted and less sure of where to go from Selma. His Poor People's March reinvigorated him like previous marches, but, sadly, he would never live to see it through. Indeed, in the last chapters I felt more and more empathy for Dr. King and was deeply moved. This is a testament to Mr. Branch's writing, honed over three volumes and two decades of research.
This is a particularly long book. Casual readers should not pick up this or any of the other volumes in this series lightly. But for the hardcore historian, this is a must read series on the Civil Rights movement and 20th century U.S. history.
In terms of structure, this book occupies a kind of middle ground between the first and second volumes in this series. The average chapter length is about 20 pages or so, with the last chapters being some of the longest. But this volume is not nearly as long in narrative length as the first volume, nor is it as short as the second. While this entire series, including this book, are a tough slog, it is not as daunting as it might seem at first glance. And like the previous two volumes, Mr. Branch gives an extraordinary amount of detail. This series truly is the definitive account of this seminal moment in American history.
This volume starts with the Selma March for voting rights and offers a definitive account of that time. And while Dr. King and his allies would achieve a great victory with the passage of the Voting Rights Act of 1965, the seeds for the movements slow downfall were visible underneath the surface during the march. Dr. King's allies in SNCC and elsewhere were beginning to doubt his leadership and commitment to nonviolence. And figures like Stokely Carmichael, who would push the movement in a more aggressive direction, would first make their appearances on the national stage. Mr. Branch deals with the myriad of issues, like "Black Power" and the urban riots of the period, deftly with a great deal of nuance. He also documents the movements growing cracks thanks to Vietnam and young leaders' dissatisfaction with the slow pace of integration. All of this would weigh heavily on Dr. King, who slowly but surely becomes more exhausted and less sure of where to go from Selma. His Poor People's March reinvigorated him like previous marches, but, sadly, he would never live to see it through. Indeed, in the last chapters I felt more and more empathy for Dr. King and was deeply moved. This is a testament to Mr. Branch's writing, honed over three volumes and two decades of research.
This is a particularly long book. Casual readers should not pick up this or any of the other volumes in this series lightly. But for the hardcore historian, this is a must read series on the Civil Rights movement and 20th century U.S. history.
marcela1016's review
3.0
an exhaustive but sometimes exhausting day by day recounting of the last two years of King's life. I was disappointed the book ended at the assassination and had zero reflection or analysis of the aftermath except for a brief epilogue.
cisko's review
5.0
Fascinating, attentive, and vivid, Canaan’s Edge is the third masterful entry in Branch’s trilogy on Dr. Martin Luther King and the Civil Rights Movement. It lives up to the first two volume, but the scope — covering 1965-68 — is difficult and foreboding. The movement searches for direction after Selma, while the rising menace of the Vietnam War draws away money, attention, and energy. Branch draws parallels between the political travails of Lyndon Johnson and the movement struggle of MLK and the SCLC, facing increasing pressures from both weary moderates and militant Black Power factions, frustrated with nonviolence and itching for a fight. Even as the impending doom of Memphis looms, inertial pressures and movement fatigue seem as great a tragedy.
But while the tone of the book is gloomy and weary, the material is fascinating, and it’s clearly an important book for understanding not only MLK’s life’s work, but also the struggles and challenges in attempting to change American society. My only regret is that Branch stops so suddenly with MLK’s death, bringing the story to a close on the balcony of the Lorraine Motel, but I understand why he chooses to leave the aftermath to other projects. An epic conclusion to a monumental biography, crucial for understanding how we got where we are, and what we face in trying to change it.
But while the tone of the book is gloomy and weary, the material is fascinating, and it’s clearly an important book for understanding not only MLK’s life’s work, but also the struggles and challenges in attempting to change American society. My only regret is that Branch stops so suddenly with MLK’s death, bringing the story to a close on the balcony of the Lorraine Motel, but I understand why he chooses to leave the aftermath to other projects. An epic conclusion to a monumental biography, crucial for understanding how we got where we are, and what we face in trying to change it.
alisonrose711's review
5.0
Absolutely magnificent - the level of detail and thoroughness is just amazing, and no matter how much you think you know about MLK or the civil rights movement, or the Vietnam war, or the FBI...you will definitely learn enough to make you feel as though you knew next to nothing. Phenomenal achievement, and most certainly worth your time to read the whole trilogy.
spoko's review
3.0
I find Branch's style too terse; the really significant moments in his narrative almost seem to get less attention than the trivial. It's an important history, and worth such a full retelling. But honestly, you'll appreciate this book more if you're already familiar with the basic contours of the story.
dansbooks's review
4.0
The final and probably the best of Branch's King years trilogy, this is also the hardest to read. That's not because it's not excellently written and presented, but because it covers such an ultimately tragic and demoralizing period. Essentially, it tells the story of the unraveling of the forces that succeeded in winning the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Voting Rights Act of 1965, poignantly placing side by side the strains affecting King and the movement along with Lyndon Johnson's demise due to Vietnam.
scherzo's review
5.0
"...said King, 'A Hundred political commentators* interred nonviolence into a premature grave'"
*not to mention J. Edgar Hoover and the FBI
*not to mention J. Edgar Hoover and the FBI