Greenberg also recounts how Lewis was a early and vocal ally of the gay and lesbian community, advocating for their rights when even other liberal politicians kept their distance.
Throughout the book, Greenberg further humanizes Lewis by taking readers inside his family life including his strong relationship with his wife and details on how he spent his final days before succumbing to cancer in 2020.
The poem “Invictus” by William Ernest Henley plays a starring role in the biography, which describes how Lewis would recite its verses as a child and would later chant them in his office. Just like that poem, Greenberg’s riveting biography describes someone who was the captain of his soul.
‘John Lewis: A Life’ by David Greenberg is released on Oct. 8, 2024, via Simon & Schuster.