Hellhound on His Trail, by Hampton Sides

Characters
SCLC	FBI	Others
Martin Luther King Coretta – wife Ralph Abernathy Andrew Young Jesse Jackson	J. Edgar Hoover Clyde Tolson – Life-long friend and 2nd in command Cartha D. DeLoach – 3rd in command Robert Jensen – FBI agent in Memphis	Prisoner #416-J a.k.a. Eric Starvo Galt a.k.a. James Earl Ray a.k.a. Ramon George Sneyd George Wallace Memphis Sanitation Workers Alexander Eist – guard in London jail Arthur Hanes – Ray’s U.S. lawyer Ray’s family: Jimmy, Jerry and John – brothers – all felons Marjorie – burned to death playing with matches Max –mentally disabled Susie – given up for adoption Lucille –mother – cirrhosis of liver Melba – mentally ill Buzzy – died in car accident Father – recluse in Missouri

For discussion:

NOTE:  All pages refer to the paperback edition of the book.

1.      Do you think MLK had an actual premonition of his death or was just being dramatic and knew that was a possibility? (page 218)

2.      Compare Coretta King with Jackie Kennedy and Ethel Kennedy.

 3.      Considering James Earl Ray:

a.       What was his main motive in life?

b.      Discuss his skill at breaking out of prison.

c.       Why did he close his eyes in the graduation photo?

d.      Why was Galt/Ray so interested in hypnotism?

e.       Why did he have his nose redone?

f.       Given his family background, do you think anything could have been done to help him and his siblings grow up differently and be productive citizens? (pages 336 & 337)

g.      Compare Ray’s life of multigenerational poverty with MLK’s Poor People’s Campaign. (page 336)

4.      Discuss the FBI under Hoover and the tactics used to follow criminals and regular citizens.

5.      Were you surprised by the SCLC leaders’ attitude after the assassination and the fact that they were not that interested in finding the individual killer but rather about the attitude in the country that wanted MLK dead?  (page 249)

6.      Did the fact that MLK openly had mistresses affect your opinion of him and his work?

a.       Did Coretta know?   If so, how did she deal with this knowledge?

b.      Consider MLK and Coretta’s marriage.   He was never home and had not provided for his family in the event of his death.

7.      What were your thoughts while reading this book?

a.       Did you enjoy it?

b.      Was it well written?

c.       What surprised you?

d.      Did you learn anything?