A review by wdudley89
Dreamer by Charles R. Johnson

4.0

Like all good books, this one made me want to learn more, in this case, about Martin Luther King. Johnson's novel takes place in the final two years of King's life, when the struggles for racial and social justice no longer allowed themselves to be contained within the bounds of his non-violent movement. The pivotal figure in the book is a man who can pass for King. Johnson uses this character as an opportunity to reflect upon the distinction between essence and appearance, and upon the contingencies of fate that bless some with favorable conditions for life that are denied to others. The story is somewhat thin (hence four stars rather than five) but the thinking is deep and the writing strong. I will read more work by Charles Johnson.