Coretta: The Story of Coretta Scott King [Hardcover]

Octavia Vivian (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: April 30, 2006

In this first biography of Coretta Scott King, written by her friend Octavia Vivian, the reader meets a determined young girl who grew up in Alabama and worked her way through Antioch College only to discover that she was not allowed to teach in the white schools in Ohio. She pursued a musical career in Boston, where she met Martin Luther King, Jr.

The Montgomery bus boycott in 1955 brought Dr. King and his wife into national prominence. Since then the nation has seen the beauty and composure of Coretta Scott King as she has continued to speak and act on behalf of civil rights.

First published in 1970 by Fortress Press, this commemorative edition has been thoroughly updated, includes a black and white photo gallery, and is full of warmth and human interest, telling the story of Coretta Scott King from her childhood to her death in February 2006.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"...This work will hep us to know more about the resilience and her courage...." -- Maya Angelou

"...remarkable story revealing the strength and heroism of a real person too often obscured by myth and frozen memories." -- Bill Clinton, former President of the United States

"A mother, wife, sister, friend and great American. This work helps us to know more about her resilience and courage." -- Maya Angelou, poet

"A moving, insightful, and inspiring tribute to one of the most admired women in the world." -- Robert M. Franklin, Presidential Distinguished Professor of Social Ethics, Candler School of Theology, Emory University

"A new generation of readers will be grateful for this intimate portrait of her extraordinary life." -- Marian Wright Edelman

"A new generation of readers will be grateful for this intimate portrait of her extraordinary life." -- Marian Wright Edelman, President and Founder, Children's Defense Fund

"Coretta Scott King's commitment to justice and just peace was universal." -- Nelson Mandela

"Remarkable story from the perspective of a friend, revealing strength and heroism too often obscured by myth and frozen memories." -- former President, Bill Clinton

"Reminds us once more of the inspiring role played by women,in the world-wide struggle for human rights, dignity and freedom." -- Nelson Mandela, former President of South Africa

About the Author

Octavia Vivian has worked extensively in the Civil Rights Movement and was a life-long friend of Coretta Scott King. Her husband, C.T. Vivian, was a former member of Dr. King's executive staff. She lives in Atlanta, Georgia

Product Details

• Hardcover: 126 pages
• Publisher: Augsburg Fortress Publishers; Cmv edition (April 30, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0800638557
• ISBN-13: 978-0800638559
• Product Dimensions: 8.2 x 5.7 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 11.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,257,146 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Love Coretta, May 6, 2009

By 

E. McDaniel "Starter" (Chicago, IL) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Coretta: The Story of Coretta Scott King (Hardcover)

This book started off well but kind of fizzled toward the end. I enjoyed the stories of Coretta & Martin in their early years plus it gives great background on what made her the strong woman she was however the book jumped all over the place. Each chapter started years prior to the last chapter (hope that makes sense) so the book didn't flow from early years to death or even from death to early years. If you are looking to get a basic background into this great woman, I would recommend this book but you won't finish it feeling completely filled.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars My hereo, August 11, 2007

By 

K. Hines (Georgia, USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Coretta: The Story of Coretta Scott King (Hardcover)

Coretta Scott King was truly a great woman, and this book chronicles some of her finest, shining moments. The author, who knew Scott King personally, does a wonderful job of paying homage to a woman so many across the world looked to in hard times for inspiration. A++

3 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Found some inaccuracies, March 26, 2007

By 

L. Chinn (Chicago, IL United States) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Coretta: The Story of Coretta Scott King (Hardcover)

The book was fine, but I found a few inaccuracies on pages near the end of the piece. If the author was a family friend of Coretta Scott King and participated in the movement, she should have the decency to get her facts straight.

For example, on one of the pages, she mentioned that Medgar Evers was killed in 1965 and Malcolm X was killed in 1963. That's an incorrect statement. Evers was killed in 1963 and Malcolm was killed in 1965. Whoever was doing the editing, should have double-checked those facts.

In another instance, the author mentioned Ms. King's birthday on April 27, 1927. However, but at the time when Dr. King was killed the author mentioned that Coretta King was 39. That definitely was not true. Coretta King was 40 at the time when her husband was killed on April 4 a few weeks prior to her birthday on April 27.

I would have given the book five stars, but because of these inaccuracies, I give it 3 stars.