"Devery S. Anderson's Emmett Till: The Murder That Shocked the World and Propelled the Civil Rights Movement provides a full and detailed picture of the murder of Emmett Till and its legacy. While there have been numerous books and several documentaries on Till's murder, trial, and its aftermath—including the posthumously published Death of Innocence: The Story of the Hate Crime That Changed America by Till's mother—Mr. Anderson's book takes readers deep inside the political psyche and cultural mindset of Mississippi at the time. Emmett Till is masterfully researched, drawing on public archives and public collections to present the most detailed account of this horrific story."—W. Ralph Eubanks, Wall Street Journal
“You may think, as I did, that you know the totality of this tale, but you will learn much that is new, as I did. That is because Anderson has tracked down every source; read every testimony, description, and transcript; interviewed every living witness; and read the memoirs of the departed. He has searched every newspaper and magazine story, including the most obscure, and gathered every conflicting version. Where witnesses conflict, he offers the likeliest version and acknowledges the disagreement. He places this horrendous crime where it belongs: centrally in the civil rights movement…. This is a book that covers its subject magnificently.”—Julian Bond, chairman emeritus, NAACP
“[This is an] exhaustive account of the heinous lynching of Emmett Till in 1955. Emmett Till explores the case inside and out, presenting information, evidence, and testimonies that have never been acknowledged publicly in sixty years. Just when you thought you knew everything about the case, this book will unequivocally change your mind."—Ryan M. Jones, museum historian, National Civil Rights Museum at the Lorraine Motel