Pulitzer Prize winner Taylor Branch's America in the King Years series begins with Parting the Waters, a comprehensive and engaging account of Martin Luther King's early life and the rise of the Civil Rights Movement. Described as the most thorough telling of the movement to date, this book follows King's political development and the pivotal role he played in the fight for justice, from the Kennedy administration to the boycotts and sit-ins of the time. Through detailed research and storytelling, Branch paints a vivid picture of the conflicts, rivalries, and betrayals that shaped the era, as well as the bravery and private struggles of those involved. An epic and important work, Parting the Waters is a must-read for anyone seeking to understand this crucial period in American history.