Books in Legendary African Americans series

*Includes pictures *Includes Tierney's own quotes about her life and career *Includes a bibliography for further reading “I ask myself: Would I have been any worse off if I had stayed home or lived on a farm instead of shock treatments and medication?” – Gene Tierney “I was fine when it came to cheering up others, not so fine with myself.” – Gene Tierney A lot of ink has been spilled covering the lives of history’s most influential figures, but how much of the forest is lost for the trees? In Charles River Editors’ American Legends series, readers can get caught up to speed on the lives of America’s most important men and women in the time it takes to finish a commute, while learning interesting facts long forgotten or never known. When people are asked to list the pros and cons of a star in Hollywood, there’s a good chance that Gene Tierney lived all of the highs and lows they would come up with. In many ways, Tierney had the prototypical career of an actress who experienced the best that Hollywood had to offer and got caught up with some of its most notorious pitfalls. With beauty queen looks, Tierney was almost immediately marked for success as an actress once she was discovered, and after just a year on Broadway, she was making her film debut around her 20th birthday. But once she seemed to be on the road to instant fame, her early career faltered, and all the while, she felt the stress and pressure to look her best, including adhering to a strict diet to maintain weight. She also became a heavy smoker in an attempt to lower her voice, which she complained made her sound too much like “an angry Minnie Mouse.” Tierney was a major star in her 20s, was one of World War II’s most notable pinups, and she was also nominated for an Academy Award for Best Actress by the age of 25, but life off the screen continued to cause her problems. By the time she was in her 30s, Tierney was struggling with severe bouts of depression, which led to her being institutionalized and even receiving electroshock therapy. Tierney hated the shock therapy and complained that it led to memory loss, and she once bitterly remarked, “I existed in a world that never is - the prison of the mind.” On top of that, she suffered at least one miscarriage and gave birth to a premature baby that had mental handicaps in part because Tierney had contracted rubella, possibly from a fan who came into close contact with her. Struggling to cope with it all, Tierney attempted suicide, and after being committed yet again, her acting career was almost over. Tierney attempted a comeback of sorts in the 1960s, but after just a few projects, she was all but through with acting, making just one more appearance in a TV miniseries in 1980. In one final blow brought about in part due to her acting career, Tierney died of emphysema when she was 70, a disease caused by the smoking habit she had taken up in order to further herself in Hollywood. American Legends: The Life of Red Skelton chronicles the life and career of one of America’s most famous actresses. Along with pictures of important people, places, and events, you will learn about Gene Tierney like never before, in no time at all.

An interesting look at the life and career of this talented tennis legend, Arthur Ashe was the first African-American male ever to play professional tennis, and would go on to win thirty-three tournaments. A teacher, author, and activist, as well as a tennis star, Ashe continued to be politically and socially active until he died of AIDS-related pneumonia.

*Includes pictures of Ginger and important people, places, and scenes. *Comprehensively analyzes her relationship with Fred Astaire and their films together. *Includes a Bibliography for further reading. "I adored Fred. We were good friends. Our only problem is that we never aspired to be any kind of a team. We didn't want to be Abbott and Costello. We thought of ourselves as individuals. We didn't intend to be another Frick and Frack. But it happened anyway, didn't it? And I'll be forever grateful it did." – Ginger Rogers A lot of ink has been spilled covering the lives of history’s most influential figures, but how much of the forest is lost for the trees? In Charles River Editors’ American Legends series, readers can get caught up to speed on the lives of America’s most important men and women in the time it takes to finish a commute, while learning interesting facts long forgotten or never known. There is no denying that the career of Ginger Rogers cannot be entirely divorced from that of Fred Astaire. The unlikely pairing - Rogers was a statuesque blonde while Astaire fell well short of the masculine ideal expected of male movie stars - only made their screen romance more dreamlike, even as the physical contrasts between them melted away during their protracted dance numbers. Not only were Astaire and Rogers the preeminent box office attraction of the time period, but they remain the most recognizable faces of the musical genre as a whole. It is telling that, as Edward Gallafent notes, the duo are identified simply as Fred and Ginger, with no need to even provide their last names. Moreover, not only are films such as Top Hat (1935) and Shall We Dance (1937) cornerstones of the musical, but one of the great achievements of the Fred and Ginger team is that they never fell out of public favor. Indeed, the completeness of the Fred and Ginger pairing was punctuated by the fact that there was no bitter breakup between them, making it so that audiences are left only with the seamless screen romances between them. Considering the immense success of their films together, it is entirely understandable that Astaire and Rogers are joined at the hip in the eyes of the public. However, an appreciation for the Fred and Ginger musicals is only enhanced by knowledge of the personal backgrounds of the two stars. After all, the fact remains that Astaire and Rogers came from vastly different cultural backgrounds, and at the time that they met, their careers had unfolded in dissimilar ways. Astaire was a national celebrity for his skills as a stage performer (mainly with his sister Adele), while Rogers was raised in a more archetypal Midwestern setting and her professional success was reached entirely through cinema. While Astaire made a name for himself through his dancing, Rogers was more recognized for her singing talents. Clearly, it is still possible to discern fundamental differences between their professional talents, contrasts that would become more distinguishable once they ceased making films together. American Legends: The Life of Ginger Rogers profiles the life and career of one of America’s most famous entertainers. Along with pictures of important people, places, and events, you will learn about Ginger Rogers like you never have before, in no time at all.

Author David K. Wright tells the story of an exceptional entertainer who devoted his life to the causes of civil rights and equality. Paul Robeson, born 1898, was a two-time All-American football player and a law-school graduate in an era that offered few opportunities for African-Americans. He went on to win international acclaim as a singer and actor, breaking through barriers both on stage and in his life. Robeson refused to compromise his integrity or to be told what African-Americans could or could not do. Robeson's career as a singer and actor suffered when the U.S. government accused him of being a communist.

Despite being a slave, Douglass learned to read and write. At age 21, he escaped from slavery and forged a new life for himself as a free man. Intelligent and charismatic, Douglass became the leading voice against slavery in the 1800s. "There is no way a nation can call itself free and accept slavery," said Frederick Douglass. Middle-grade readers and up will respond to Anne Schraff's fresh, lively retelling of Douglass's story.

Author Wendie C. Old weaves a rich, colorful tapestry of the life of this beloved and brilliant musician known to his fans as Satchmo. Louis Armstrong rose from poverty and a troubled childhood to set the music world on fire with his lively trumpet playing and trademark raspy singing voice. With a natural talent for showmanship, Armstrong won fame while touring around the world, and proved to be one of the most extraordinary performers of the Jazz Age and beyond.

Author Wendie C. Old weaves a rich, colorful tapestry of the life of this beloved and brilliant musician known to his fans as Satchmo. Louis Armstrong rose from poverty and a troubled childhood to set the music world on fire with his lively trumpet playing and trademark raspy singing voice. With a natural talent for showmanship, Armstrong won fame while touring around the world, and proved to be one of the most extraordinary performers of the Jazz Age and beyond.

*Includes pictures of Chief Joseph and other important people and places in his life. *Explains the events that led up to the Nez Perce War and comprehensively covers the tribe's legendary retreat *Discusses Chief Joseph's legacy and controversies surrounding his life. “Our fathers gave us many laws, which they had learned from their fathers. These laws were good. They told us to treat all people as they treated us; that we should never be the first to break a bargain; that is was a disgrace to tell a lie; that we should speak only the truth; that it was a shame for one man to take another's wife or his property without paying for it.” – Chief Joseph A lot of ink has been spilled covering the lives of history’s most influential figures, but how much of the forest is lost for the trees? In Charles River Editors’ American Legends series, readers can get caught up to speed on the lives of America’s most important men and women in the time it takes to finish a commute, while learning interesting facts long forgotten or never known. When he died in 1904, most Americans who knew his people’s story considered Chief Joseph, whose Nez Percé name is Himahtooyahlatkekt (“Thunder Rolling Down from the Mountains”), a military genius and an “Indian Napoleon.” This assessment of the Native American leader was based on a 1,500-mile odyssey during which he and his people left their reservation in the hopes of escaping to Canada, where the Nez Percé intended to join Sitting Bull and his Hunkpapa Sioux band. The real Chief Joseph was a gifted speaker and more diplomat than war leader. It’s not surprising that Chief Joseph was misunderstood and misrepresented by Americans because his people’s name was as well; Nez Percé literally means “pierced nose” in French, but it is unclear whether the tribe ever used nose piercing as a form of ornament. At the time of Joseph’s birth, the Nez Percé were rapidly becoming the most influential and wealthy tribe in the region, and their prospects seemed bright. Lewis and Clark had considered his ancestors sufficiently friendly and reliable that they left their horses with them as they loaded onto canoes and journeyed to the Pacific Coast. By the time of Joseph’s birth in 1840, the Nez Percé had maintained friendly relations with American settlers for several decades. But their attitudes would soon change as the United States government began to coerce them to cede their traditional homeland to newly arrived white settlers, and the Nez Percé began suffering a fate very similar to that of other Native American tribes to the east. Joseph had inherited tribal leadership from his father in 1871, and for six tumultuous years he attempted to peacefully resist settlers who desired the tribe’s fertile potential farmland in the Wallowa Valley of present-day northeastern Oregon. Thus it was Chief Joseph who fought the Nez Perce War against the U.S. Army in 1877, earning grudging respect from the people who sought to defeat them. American Legends: The Life of Chief Joseph of the Nez Perce profiles the amazing life and leadership of the famous Native American Chief, examining the results of the war and analyzing his lasting legacy. Along with pictures of important people, places, and events, you will learn about Chief Joseph like you never have before, in no time at all.