Books in American Legends series

*Includes pictures. *Includes some of Sinatra's most famous and colorful quotes. *Includes a Bibliography for further reading. “May you live to be 100 and may the last voice you hear be mine.” – Frank Sinatra 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. America has always celebrated its star entertainers, but Frank Sinatra remains a unique American legend. A pop culture fixture for over half a century, Sinatra’s music is still cherished, and his persona remains its own archetype of the quintessential American star. Sinatra transcended genres to the extent that his music stands alone as its own kind of American music, with songs like “New York, New York,” “Chicago,” and “Come Fly With Me” instantly recognizable among all Americans. Of course, there was also the life that went with the music. The cultural identity of the Rat Pack, epitomized in the 1960 film Ocean’s Eleven, further contributed to his fame, and everyone knows and appreciates the image of easy living, smooth voice and exuberant star power that Sinatra represents. If anything, Sinatra’s ability to make so many people feel happy and good about themselves was one of the main ingredients of his success. And as evidence of the fact that Americans don’t mind their stars doing a little dirt, Sinatra’s rap sheet and relationship with the mob are practically a celebrated part of his life. Given his almost universal appeal, it is easy to forget that Sinatra did not always enjoy strong popularity during his career. He had a meteoric rise to fame, but he also suffered a terrible mid-career slump in popularity and was forced to work hard to reinvent his public image. In a sense, the many changes to his public identity only make him even more American; the American public loves an underdog figure, and during his rise back to fame Sinatra came to embody the struggling American hero. The many transformations that Sinatra made throughout his career were necessary to cement his legacy as an unshakable American icon. American Legends: The Life of Frank Sinatra looks at the life, career and legacy of Ol’ Blue Eyes. Along with pictures of important people, places and events in his life, you will learn about Sinatra like you never have before, in no time at all.

*Includes pictures *Includes Duke Ellington's quotes about his life and career *Includes a bibliography for further reading *Includes a table of contents “I merely took the energy it takes to pout and wrote some blues.” – Duke Ellington “Art is dangerous. It is one of the attractions: when it ceases to be dangerous you don't want it.” – Duke Ellington 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. In 1956, Duke Ellington was featured on the cover of Time Magazine after a bravura performance at the Newport Jazz Festival that summer. This remains one of his most iconic achievements, and a landmark for jazz music as a whole (only four jazz musicians were ever displayed on the cover of Time). At the same time, however, this recognition stands as one of the prevailing ironies of Ellington’s career, as he was deep into the latter stages of his performing life by this point. Indeed, there is a way in which everything that Ellington had done up to that point in his career was obscured. Put differently, it is misleading to recognize Duke simply for his accomplished performance at the festival, as one could justifiably argue that he transformed the very nature of jazz (both its stylistic qualities and its cultural identity) in his career up until this point. Duke Ellington’s career covers such a vast scope that it is difficult to locate exactly where it began. Born into a relatively well-to-do family in Washington, D.C., Duke’s mother saw to it that he received quality musical instruction from a young age, yet this did not lead to immediate investment in the musical arts. It was not until early in his teenage years that he began seriously playing music, but his performing career began soon thereafter. From that point forward, Ellington’s shift through adolescence through adulthood—his very maturation process—was inextricably tied to his growth as a musical performer. Moreover, Ellington was both a pioneer and someone invested in the cultural history of his race. He was able to implement new motifs to jazz, but did so in a manner that was forever committed to honoring the heritage of African-American music. In addition to live performances, Ellington worked in radio and film, and his work remains some of the most important in American culture during the time period. His music addressed not only race but also influenced the evolution of jazz through the first half of the 20th century. American Legends: The Life of Duke Ellington looks at the life and career of one of America’s most influential musicians. Along with pictures of important people, places, and events, you will learn about Duke Ellington like never before, in no time at all.

Phoebe Anne Moses, called Annie Oakley, got her start with a rifle in Darke County, Ohio, at the age of 10. She helped provide food for her family by hunting and then began a business selling her extra game to shops in Cincinnati. It was there in 1880 that she entered a shooting contest against Frank Butler, a professional sharpshooter. Frank became her husband and later her manager, helping Annie to win stardom in a show called Buffalo Bill's Wild West.

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. The Founding Fathers have become so revered by Americans in the last 200 years that the “Father of the Constitution” himself is often overlooked among the rest of the pantheon. Today James Madison’s legacy mostly pales in comparison to the likes of George Washington, Ben Franklin and his closest colleague, Thomas Jefferson, but Madison’s list of important accomplishments is monumental. A lifelong statesman, Madison was the youngest delegate at the Continental Congress from 1780-83, and at 36 he was one of the youngest men who headed to Philadelphia for the Constitutional Convention in 1787. Despite his age, he was the Convention’s most influential thinker, and the man most responsible for the final draft of the U.S. Constitution. Along with Alexander Hamilton and John Jay, Madison was one of the most persuasive advocates for ratifying the Constitution, authoring some of the most famous Federalist Papers, and he drafted the Bill of Rights that was later added to the Constitution. But his work was far from done; along with Thomas Jefferson, Madison was one of the founders and ideological cornerstones of the Democratic-Republican Party that guided the young nation in the first 30 years of the 19th century. That included his own presidency, in which he oversaw the War of 1812. Like the other Founding Fathers, Madison is better known in word and deed than as an actual person. American Legends: The Life of James Madison covers Madison’s incredible accomplishments, but it also humanizes the classic thinker who idolized Thomas Jefferson and had a loving relationship with wife Dolley, who helped mold the position of First Lady as debutante. Along with pictures of Madison and other important people and events in his life, you will learn about the Father of the Constitution like you never have before, in no time at all.

*Includes pictures *Includes Tate's own quotes about her life and career *Includes online resources and a bibliography for further reading *Includes a table of contents “When I was in school, I dreamed about becoming a psychiatrist or a ballerina. Like most girls I would dream about being a movie star too. But those dreams are the impossible kind, the kind you don't really set your heart on.” – Sharon Tate “It's weird. I always had the premonition that Sharon belonged to me just for a little while.” – Roman Polanski 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. In 1969, things were looking up for one of Hollywood’s most marketable actresses. After appearing as a model in fashion magazines and having bit parts on shows during the early part of the decade, Sharon Tate was a star in the making. That summer, she was pregnant with her first child by director Roman Polanski, who had just recently become her husband, and a few months earlier, she had just finished filming The Thirteen Chairs, co-starring Orson Welles. Tragically, superstardom would never come, and even today, over 45 years later, most details of Sharon’s life and career are completely overlooked by people who continue to be morbidly curious about her murder at the hands of the Manson Family on August 9, 1969. The murders committed by Charlie Manson’s followers transfixed America, and Tate has been inextricably linked to one of 20th century America’s most notorious criminals. As if that wasn’t bad enough, focus on her relationship with Roman Polanski also became more complicated shortly after her death when her widowed husband posed for photographs in the room where she had been murdered. On top of that, Polanski was accused of sexually assaulting a teenager in 1977, but he avoided being sentenced by fleeing to France and, despite being controversial and having been subjected to extradition requests by the American government, remains free and occasionally directs films. In his autobiography, Polanski wrote glowingly of his wife, “Sharon was more than just stunning to look at. She wasn't naive or stupid or a cliché starlet. What had impressed me most about her, quite apart from her exceptional beauty, was the sort of radiance that springs from a kind and gentle nature; she had obvious hang-ups yet seemed completely liberated. I'd never met anyone like her before.” American Legends: The Life of Sharon Tate examines 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 Sharon Tate like never before, in no time at all.

Ever hear of a feller named John Henry? They say he was born with a 10 pound hammer in his hand! As a man, John was the fastest steel drivin' man helpin' to build the railroad. So when a stranger challenged mighty John to take on a steam drill, what do you think that John Henry did? Kick off yer' boots and listen to this fascinatin' tale of John Henry and the steam drill.