Ithaca Extends MLK Celebrations with Pulitzer-Winning Author’s Visit

The event, free and open to the public, will be held in TCPL’s BorgWarner Community Room at 101 East Green Street from 6 to 8 p.m. on February 10.

While most events honoring Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. took place on the national holiday, Ithaca is continuing the celebration beyond January. The Tompkins County Public Library (TCPL) recently announced that Jonathan Eig, the award-winning author of King: A Life, will be visiting the library on Saturday, February 10, to discuss his critically acclaimed biography of the civil rights leader.

The event, free and open to the public, will be held in TCPL’s BorgWarner Community Room at 101 East Green Street from 6 to 8 p.m. Attendees will have the opportunity to participate in a Q&A session and a book signing, hosted in partnership with Odyssey Bookstore.

Eig’s King: A Life won the 2024 Pulitzer Prize for Biography, receiving high praise for its depth of research and compelling narrative. The Pulitzer committee described it as "a landmark biography" that presents a fresh and nuanced perspective on Dr. King, drawing from newly declassified FBI documents to offer new insights into his life and legacy.

A native of New York, Eig has written several bestsellers, including Ali: A Life, a biography of Muhammad Ali, Opening Day: The Story of Jackie Robinson’s First Season, and Luckiest Man: The Life and Death of Lou Gehrig. His works are known for their meticulous research and engaging storytelling.

With Eig’s upcoming talk, Ithaca residents will have a unique opportunity to delve deeper into the life and impact of Dr. King, ensuring that his message of justice and equality continues to resonate beyond the holiday.