"You know, I just love Grace Kelly. Not because she was a princess, not because she was an actress, not because she was my friend, but because she was just about the nicest lady I ever met. Grace brought into my life as she brought into yours, a soft, warm light every time I saw her, and every time I saw her was a holiday of its own." - James Stewart 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, listeners can get up to speed on the lives of America's most important men and women. It can be done in the time it takes to finish a commute, while learning interesting facts long forgotten or never known. Considering that her film career lasted just six years, it would seem as though the reputation of Grace Kelly far outweighs her actual output. From the time of her arrival in Hollywood in 1951, through her final film, High Society, in 1956, Kelly acted in just 11 films. Viewers were left to wonder whether Kelly was still in the beginning of her career, or whether High Society was a proper culmination to an extraordinarily brief stay in the film industry. Ultimately, it is might be most accurate to state that Kelly was still in the prime of her career, but it's unclear what direction her career would have taken, as well as who inherited the void she left. Despite the short resume, Kelly is one of America's most famous actresses. She left an indelible impact on Hollywood. Kelly brought a well-heeled, almost-regal quality that deviated from the film noir roles and musical showgirls who had populated the screen during the 1930s and 1940s.

In many ways, Judy Garland’s rise to fame seems almost predestined. Not only was she a national sensation at a young age, but her parents and sisters were all vaudeville entertainers. On top of that, Garland’s parents owned and operated a movie theater, making it all the easier to draw the conclusion that singing and acting were simply professions which she was born into by virtue of her pedigree. Judy’s early childhood quickly demonstrated that she had a gifted voice that developed well beyond its years and seemingly did not require any formal training in order to achieve success; her first performance before a public audience came when she was still a toddler, and she would continue to act up until her death, never pausing for more than a few months at a time. That Garland was able to secure starring roles almost immediately after signing a contract with MGM in 1935 only corroborates the belief that Garland was practically born with the ability to succeed in show business and the motion picture industry. Of course, Garland might be known today based more on her demise than anything else, and there’s no denying that one of the most fascinating (and tragic) aspects of her life story is the manner in which her downward spiral occurred with the same rapid progression as her meteoric ascent. Garland died in 1969 at the age of 47, but she had lost control over her life years earlier and was actually fortunate to live as long as she did. As early as 1950, when she was still yet to turn 30 years old and remained a box office attraction, Garland’s contract was terminated by MGM and she would never again find consistent employment as a movie star. At an age in which most actresses were in the prime of their careers, Garland’s career was nearly finished. The contrast between Garland’s innocent, universally adored performances in films such as The Wizard of Oz (1939) and The Pirate (1948) could not be more dissimilar to the image of the wasted, drug-addled Garland who passed away as a result of a drug overdose before the age of 50. The question therefore remains: how did Garland go from a position of immense wealth and acclaim to the poverty-ridden individual who was too mentally unstable to act in movies and ultimately died prematurely? American Legends: The Life of Judy Garland profiles 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 Judy Garland like you never have before, in no time at all.

\*Includes pictures of important people, places, and events. \*Includes Cary Grant's quotes about his own life and working with other Hollywood stars. \*Includes a bibliography for further reading. \*Includes a table of contents. “Everyone wants to be Cary Grant. Even I want to be Cary Grant.” – Cary Grant 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. Movie stars are revered for their ability to captivate audiences, and perhaps no actor has done it as well as Cary Grant, the epitome of the suave, debonair actor who may have been rivaled only by dancer extraordinaire Fred Astaire. Grant offered a version of the male actor that stood in stark contrast with the gangster heroes and hard-boiled film noir detectives that populated the screen throughout his career. Impeccably groomed and always clad in dapper attire, Grant possessed a magnetism that was undeniably attractive, all while managing to come across as well-heeled and socially respectable. As a result, there was an archetypal quality to Cary Grant that endeared him to both male and female viewers. After all, he was able to star in major movies well into his 60s, and even after he retired, Grant never lost his charm and continued to maintain a universal appeal that has almost never been rivaled. Cary Grant occupies an almost sacred place in American film history, but it is still important to recognize that the persona that has enchanted audiences for decades was in fact a creation. Grant was not born with the charm and elegance he later exuded, and the contrast between his upbringing and the man he would later become is arguably the most remarkable aspect of his life story. Born into a dysfunctional family, Grant had a tumultuous childhood that saw him tasked with perpetually overcoming major adversity. With a mother who was too ill to care for him and a father whose interests lay elsewhere, he was in many respects charged with raising himself, a dynamic entirely antithetical to the affluent characters he famously portrayed in films such as The Philadelphia Story (1939), To Catch a Thief (1953), and An Affair to Remember (1957). The progression from Grant’s youth to his glamorous adult life was a complex transformation of its own, and it is a Hollywood rags-to-riches story of its own. At the same time, Grant’s rise to stardom was due to an intricate web of factors, including his own natural acting ability, developments in the motion picture industry, and the fortuitous opportunity to consistently work with gifted directors who molded his image. Like nearly every big star, Grant was an exceptionally gifted actor and someone who benefited from a fortunate string of career opportunities that he took advantage of to full effect. American Legends: The Life of Cary Grant examines the life and career of Hollywood’s most iconic leading man. Along with pictures of important people, places, and events, you will learn about Cary Grant like never before, in no time at all.

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, listeners 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 many ways, the Kennedy First Family was the perfect embodiment of a new young decade. The 1960s began with a sense of idealism, personified by the youthful and handsome new president. In 1961, John F. Kennedy made it seem like anything was possible, and Americans were eager to believe him. The next three years would be fondly and famously labeled "Camelot," suggesting an almost mythical quality about the young president and his family. The famous label came from John's fashionable and beautiful wife, Jackie, whose elegance and grace made her the most popular woman in the world. Her popularity threatened to eclipse even her husband's, who famously quipped on one presidential trip to France that he was "the man who accompanied Jacqueline Kennedy to Paris." Americans were fascinated by the young first lady's style, and the manner in which she glamorously positioned both the First Family and the White House in those years, and Jackie remains one of the country's most popular First Ladies. But it was in the face of adversity that she truly made her lasting mark, with the country taking its cue from her in the aftermath of the president's assassination. Having devised and lit the eternal flame at JFK's tombstone, Jackie also set about securing her husband's legacy, a time still fondly and mythically remembered as Camelot today, despite his legendary transgressions and infidelities. Jackie continued to fascinate Americans over the next several decades, acting as a living symbol of the Kennedy years and a popular unofficial representative for her country abroad. She famously went on to marry Greek shipping magnate Aristotle Onassis, earning her the nickname Jackie O, and she took up a career in publishing beginning in the mid-70s. Until her death in 1994, even in her 60s she continued to be the subject of popular interest and intense tabloid and paparazzi coverage. American The Life and Legacy of Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis details the fame and fashion of the famous first lady, while also examining her legacy during and after her years in the White House. You will learn about Jackie O like you never have before, in no time at all.

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. Today, the name Clint Eastwood conjures up many different and unforgettable images. While many will always associate him as the quintessential Western hero in classics like The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly, new generations know him as a critically acclaimed director and even an outspoken conservative firebrand. Even if he is no longer the most prominent star in Hollywood, he is assuredly the most decorated octogenarian in the industry. In addition to his acting, two of his pictures, Unforgiven (1992) and Million Dollar Baby (2004), garnered Oscars for Best Director and Best Picture. Eastwood's acting and directing abilities have long appealed to both high classes and mass audiences, although it is true that his early works were skewed more toward the popular while the later ones reflect the opposite dynamic. Debuting in the 1950s, Eastwood's career has now spanned over 50 years, and he has been involved in over 75 films, not to mention his appearances in television and other media. The sheer volume of films is especially impressive considering that he has also directed a significant number of them.

"The greatest ability in business is to get along with others and to influence their actions." (John Hancock) 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, listeners 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. At the National Archives Building in Washington, DC, the foundational documents of the United States are kept under layers of bulletproof glass in an atmosphere of argon gas, in casements designed to retract in case of emergency into vaults designed to survive a nuclear blast. Americans are familiar with the famous phrases contained in the Constitution, Bill of Rights, and Declaration of Independence, but viewers immediately notice how faded the documents on display are, especially the Declaration of Independence. The words can scarcely be read, nor can most of the signatures of the signers be made out, with one famous the large, bold, distinctive, and most recognizable signature in American history. Most Americans are familiar with John Hancock solely because of his famous signature, and his name has become a slang phrase for signing a document. But his conspicuous signature on the Declaration of Independence has overshadowed the various and important contributions Hancock made in colonial Boston before the revolution, the Continental Congress during the revolution, and Massachusetts state politics after the revolution.

\Includes nearly 20 pictures of Reagan and the important people and events in his life. \Includes a Table of ContentsA 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 the famous movie Back to the Future, Marty McFly travels back to 1955, and, in an attempt to convince his friend Doc Brown that he is from 1985, tells the 1955 version of Doc Brown that Ronald Reagan is president. Doc looks at him incredulously and laughs, chortling, “Ronald Reagan? The actor?” Of course, the joke was on Doc Brown. In a story that could have come straight out of Hollywood, the golden actor went from the silver screen to California politics to become governor and eventually the 40th President. The 70+ year old former actor then went on to have one of the most consequential presidencies of the 20th century, unquestionably making him one of the most influential men of the last 50 years. Reagan's name is still as relevant in American politics today, with every politician with an R next to his or her name trying to claim Ronald Reagan’s conservative mantle. In the Republican presidential nomination debates in 2011, Reagan’s name was invoked an average of over 5 times per debate, more than every other president combined. Meanwhile, Americans of all stripes continue to debate the merits of “Reaganomics” more than 30 years after Reagan was elected. Like all legends, Reagan’s lengthy life and career have been molded to fit certain narratives, to the point that they obscure the actual man. American The Life of Ronald Reagan looks at the personal and family life of the Golden Age actor, governor and president, while highlighting his accomplishments and assessing his ongoing legacy. Along with pictures of Reagan and other important people and events in his life, you will learn about Reagan like you never have before, in no time at all.

\*Includes several letters written by Abigail Adams, John Adams and Thomas Jefferson. \*Includes pictures of Adams and important people, places, and events in his life. \*Includes a Bibliography for further reading. \*Includes a Table of Contents. "A Constitution of Government once changed from Freedom, can never be restored. Liberty, once lost, is lost forever.” – John Adams 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. John Adams has become one of the more popular presidents in history relatively recently, but it was not always so. For most of his life he was seen as a bit of an outsider, different from his fellow first presidents in his temperament, birth, life and politics. Adams and his son were the only presidents out of the first seven who were born north of the Mason Dixon line, and he was not an easy man to understand or work with. Not only did he have few friends, but he also often fell into long term quarrels with those he had. Politically, Adams shared Washington’s preference for Britain as well as his preference of non-interference. However, while he was certainly the more significant man in his work and his governing, he could never seem to move out of Washington’s shadow. Even worse, his presidency was seen as threatening to the very essence of American liberty with the Alien and Sedition Acts, and his loss to Jefferson in 1800 was a repudiation of the Federalists that left Jeffersonians in power until John Quincy Adams was elected in 1824. His presidency is still viewed relatively unfavorably. Adams remained a celebrated figure in Boston for all the work he did in Massachusetts before and after the Revolution, but his national reputation has experienced quite a renaissance over the past decade, beginning with David Mccullough’s best selling biography in 2001, followed in 2008 by the popular HBO series based on it. Then, in 2010, Dearest Friend, a record of the correspondence between Adams and his wife Abigail solidified his position as one of the most darling Founding Fathers of the 21st Century. Several factors explain the recent boost to his legacy. First, unlike Washington or Jefferson, Adams was not a cultural icon. Therefore, Americans have had more to learn about his life and work, whereas recent historical findings about men like Jefferson are either anti-climatic or disappointing. Moreover, Adams and his son are the only two of the first 10 presidents not to have owned slaves, making it easier and more politically correct to like them. Finally, the extensive letters that passed between him and Abigail have cast him as a romantic figure in a way that few other presidents enjoy. American Legends: The Life of John Adams chronicles the amazing life and work of one of America’s Founding Fathers, but it humanizes the man who could be both mercurial and tender. Along with pictures of important people, places, and events in her life, you will learn about John Adams like you never have before, in no time at all.

\Includes pictures of Rosa and important people, places, and events in her life.\Includes some of her most inspirational quotes. \*Discusses Rosa's participation in some of the Civil Rights Movement's most famous events. “People always say that I didn't give up my seat because I was tired, but that isn't true. I was not tired physically, or no more tired than I usually was at the end of a working day. I was not old, although some people have an image of me as being old then. I was forty-two. No, the only tired I was, was tired of giving in.” – Rosa ParksA 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. Rosa Parks is one of the most famous women in American history, and an instantly recognizable name among Americans of all age, thanks to the events of December 1, 1955. That afternoon, on her way home from work, Parks refused to give up her bus seat to a white person in defiancé of Montgomery’s segregated bus policies. Within days of her arrest, Montgomery’s civil rights activists had organized a wide-scale boycott of Montgomery’s buses by blacks. To lead the boycott, organizers formed the Montgomery Improvement Association, electing a young, 26 year old pastor president of the new group. His name was Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. In many histories, the narrative of Rosa Parks’ life ends there. While she was celebrated and hailed as a civil rights activist for the next 50 years until her death in 2005, few details of her life aside from her determined act and arrest are remembered. The context of the time and place are also largely overlooked, most notably the fact that she was not the first black woman who was arrested for refusing to give up her seat in 1955. All of that is largely unfair, considering the fact that Rosa Parks suffered further abuse and stigma living in the South during the Civil Rights Movement. And instead of cashing in on her fame, she gave much of the money she made to civil rights groups and organizations. American The Life of Rosa Parks profiles the life and legacy of one of America’s most famous women and one of its greatest Civil Rights icons. Along with pictures of important people, places, and events, you will learn about Rosa Parks and her story like never before.

\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.\Includes a Table of Contents. "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 RogersA 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 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.

\Includes pictures of the Wright brothers, their planes, and important events. \Includes a Bibliography for further reading.\*Includes a Table of Contents. “For some years I have been afflicted with the belief that flight is possible to man. My disease has increased in severity and I feel that it will soon cost me an increased amount of money if not my life. I have been trying to arrange my affairs in such a way that I can devote my entire time for a few months to experiment in this field.” – Wilbur Wright, 1900A 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 lives of Wilbur and Orville Wright are quintessential American stories. Growing up in America’s heartland, the boys lived very ordinary lives with 5 other siblings and worked in printing jobs and repair jobs that involved tinkering with tools and bicycles. But at the end of the 20th century, one of the brothers’ passions became an obsession, especially for Wilbur, who would later write, “My brother and I became seriously interested in the problem of human flight in 1899.” The Wright Brothers initially underestimated the difficulties involved in flying, and they were apparently surprised by the fact that so many others were working on solving the “problem of human flight” already. Decades before their own historic plane would end up in the National Air & Space Museum, Wilbur and Orville asked the Smithsonian for reading materials and brushed up on everything from the works of their contemporaries to Leonardo Da Vinci. Undeterred by the work, and the fact that several would-be pioneers died in crashes trying to control gliders, the Wright Brothers tested out gliding at Kitty Hawk in North Carolina for several years, working to perfect pilot control before trying powered flight. In December 1903, the brothers had done enough scientific work with concepts like lift to help their aeronautical designs, and they had the technical know-how to work with engines. On December 17, the brothers took turns making history’s first successful powered flights. The fourth and final flight lasted nearly a minute and covered nearly 900 feet. The Wright Flyer I had just made history, and minutes later it would be permanently damaged after wind gusts tipped it over; it would never fly again. Although the Wright Brothers are still famous for the first flight, the rest of their story is often overlooked, especially their subsequent contributions in the field of aviation. Far from merely experimenting for a few weeks, Wilbur would work in aviation until dying of typhoid at the age of 45 in 1912, and it fell upon Orville to continue their business crucial aviation developments. By the time Orville died in 1948, planes had nearly reached supersonic speeds, a far cry from the days of bicycles and carriages he knew as a kid.American The Wright Brothers profiles the lives, careers, and legacies of the famous brothers. Along with pictures of important people, places, and events, you will learn about the Wright Brothers like you never have before, in no time at all.

\Includes pictures of Shirley Temple and important people, places, and scenes. \Includes Temple's own quotes about her life and relationships.\Includes a Bibliography for further reading.\Includes a Table of Contents. "I stopped believing in Santa Claus when I was six. Mother took me to see him in a department store and he asked for my autograph." – Shirley TempleA 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. Shirley Temple remains the most famous child star of all time, but even this designation fails to reflect the magnitude of her popularity during the era in which she worked. While it is true that she was not the first child actor to reach Hollywood fame, she was the first—and to this day, perhaps the only—star who rose to the very pinnacle of the Hollywood elite before she even turned 10 years of age. For this reason, it is no exaggeration to view Shirley as the progenitor for all of the child actors that succeeded her. Moreover, her cultural importance constitutes an even more important barometer through which to measure her overall significance. Not only was Shirley a film star, but she had a monumental impact on a generation of children who grew up during the Great Depression, with her plucky optimism representing an invaluable calming presence for an American public struggling both financially and emotionally. She was not only a young actress but also a brand name, someone who offered fathers and mothers hope for their children to achieve the same success as the famous child star. For all of Shirley Temple’s fame, it is no doubt surprising to many that her actual films received scant critical acclaim. Her films were never mentioned on critical “best of” lists, nor did they regularly appear on the list of nominees for the Academy Awards. In fact, even though most everyone has viewed at least one of her films, it is unlikely that most people could name many of her films. This is not mentioned to degrade her films but instead to identify the way in which the significance of the child star far outshined that of her films. It is worth considering, therefore, what the relationship was between Temple and her films, and how she was framed within the narratives. How exactly did Temple first reach Hollywood fame, and how did the many films she appeared in between 1934 and 1938 - the height of her career - build her fame to its lofty peak even as they were quickly forgotten? Yet another stark difference in Temple’s career was the way in which it declined as quickly as it rose. With most famous actresses, a relatively unremarkable childhood precedes an extraordinary film career, but with Temple, the opposite dynamic took place; she led a childhood whose fame has never been equaled, and it has overshadowed the rest of her adult life. Regardless, Shirley Temple remains a household name today, not only for the way in which her career shaped America during the Depression but for the path she blazed for other child stars. American The Life of Shirley Temple profiles the life and career of Hollywood’s most famous child star. Along with pictures of important people, places, and events, you will learn about Shirley Temple like you never have before, in no time at all.

\Includes pictures of Marilyn and important people and scenes. \Includes quotes about her life and career. \Includes a bibliography for further reading. \Includes a Table of Contents. “The truth is I've never fooled anyone. I've let people fool themselves. They didn't bother to find out who and what I was. Instead they would invent a character for me. I wouldn't argue with them. They were obviously loving somebody I wasn't. When they found this out, they would blame me for disillusioning them and fooling them.” – Marilyn MonroeA 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. Few actresses lived their lives in the public eye more than Marilyn Monroe, and yet her life remains shrouded in mystery to this day. While it is common knowledge that Marilyn’s life is a rags-to-riches story, her life is bookended by hazy details surrounding her early life and even more mysterious death. Who was Norma Jean Baker? Who was Marilyn Monroe? The unknown has contributed to the mythology that has since become part of her legacy, and she nurtured it. Marilyn was adept at constructing a fanciful mystique about her early years, and it’s become all but impossible to disentangle the truth from the narrative that Marilyn helped establish. Fittingly, even though Marilyn is instantly recognizable and still one of film’s greatest icons, her films remain unfamiliar to the vast majority of the public. Most people have some preconception of Marilyn’s film persona, seeing her as the “dumb blonde” without a brain who existed only in order to be gazed upon. However, one of the essential questions concerning Marilyn’s life involves the accuracy of the “Marilyn stereotype”; is the “dumb blonde” identity an accurate descriptor of her film roles, and how does it compare to Marilyn’s personality off of the movie set? Given how famous Marilyn Monroe was and continues to be, it’s remarkable that so many people know so little about her life and career. What is known is that Marilyn Monroe was America’s ultimate sex symbol in the 20th century, in part because she came of age in the wake of World War II and became famous during the conservative era of the 1950s. She appeared in just two films in the 1960s, prior to her premature death in August 1962, and there is a wide gulf between the brevity of her career and the impact that she made on American culture throughout the 1950s. Marilyn’s death left everyone to speculate where her career would have gone in the 1960s, but it’s probably safe to guess she wouldn’t be the icon she remains today. American The Life of Marilyn Monroe comprehensively examines the starlet’s life and films, exploring the controversies and the ways in which her life and works are mutually informative. Along with pictures of important people, places, and events, you will learn about Marilyn Monroe like you never have before, in no time at all.

\Includes Truman's most colorful quotes about the World Wars, politics, the Republican Party, Richard Nixon, and more.\Includes pictures of Truman and important people, places, and events in his life.\*Includes a Table of Contents. "The people can never understand why the President does not use his powers to make them behave. Well all the president is, is a glorified public relations man who spends his time flattering, kissing, and kicking people to get them to do what they are supposed to do anyway.” – Harry TrumanA 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. Among America’s presidents, Harry Truman’s presidency produced some of the nation’s most crucial decisions and left one of the nation’s most unique legacies. When President Franklin Roosevelt died in April 1945, Vice President Truman, somewhat unprepared for the Presidency, now had to fill some of the biggest shoes in American history. Incredibly, Truman had not been informed of the country’s secret attempt to build atomic bombs, confiding in his diary after learning about it, “We have discovered the most terrible bomb in the history of the world. It may be the fire destruction prophesied in the Euphrates Valley Era, after Noah and his fabulous Ark.”The new president had to usher America through victory in Europe in his first month and decide to drop atomic bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki a few months later, but the end of World War II produced only the first of many consequential decisions Truman would face during his nearly 8 years in office. As president, Truman would lay the groundwork for the next 50 years of American foreign policy, as the architect of Cold War containment, the man who signed off on the Marshall Plan, and the commander-in-chief during much of the Korean War. He would also be the president who finally integrated the military, a crucial step on the way to full civil rights for the country’s minorities. These accomplishments have earned Truman admiration and praise from most historians today, but the Korean War in particular made him especially unpopular during much of his presidency. To this day, his most memorable picture was a byproduct of his upset victory over Dewey in the 1948 election, with Truman holding up a Chicago Tribune newspaper incorrectly asserting, “Dewey Defeats Truman.” While Americans today mostly remember that iconic picture and fondly recall “Give Em Hell Harry” and his memorable quotes, Truman would actually finish his presidency with historically low approval ratings.American The Life of Harry Truman chronicles the amazing life and career of a Midwesterner with humble roots who rose through party politics to become one of the most important presidents of the 20th century. Along with pictures of important people, places, and events, you will learn about Harry Truman like you never have before, in no time at all.

\Includes pictures of Clinton and important people, places and events in his life. \Includes a Table of Contents"Sometime in my sixteenth year, I decided I wanted to be in public life as an elected official. I loved music and thought I could be very good, but I knew I would never be John Coltrane or Stan Getz. I was interested in medicine and thought I could be a fine doctor, but I knew I would never be Michael DeBakey. But I knew I could be great in public service." – Bill ClintonA 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. It would be impossible to sum up the life and legacy of Bill Clinton in one sentence or even one paragraph, as the former president represents many different things to many different people. Indeed, the yin and yang of Clinton’s life and career are inescapable. Widely hailed as the greatest politician of his era, Clinton proved to be his own worst enemy, creating unnecessary scandals through his womanizing. Clinton was one of the first politicians to truly connect with young adults, yet in the process he provided ludicrous soundbytes like “I did not inhale.” Long considered the Democratic Party’s greatest spokesman and surrogate, Clinton’s presidency was defined by centrist “triangulation”. And though he is still publicly popular and considered a great president, Clinton became just the second president to be impeached in the House of Representatives. Regardless of what Americans think of him, one thing Clinton does represent is the American Dream. Born to a single mother in Hope, Arkansas, Clinton used his ambition, hard work and intelligence to become a Rhodes scholar. As a teenager, a meeting with President Kennedy helped drive him toward politics, which he pursued after getting his law degree at Yale, where he met future wife Hillary Rodham. Clinton ran for the U.S. House of Representatives in 1974 but was defeated, which spurred him into state politics in Arkansas, where he climbed the ladder from Attorney General to Governor at just 32 years old. He spent most of the 1980s as Arkansas’ governor and a prominent voice in the more centrist wing of the Democratic Party, favoring welfare reform and smaller government. In 1992, Clinton truly became “The Comeback Kid”, managing to win the Democratic primaries after losing the first two primaries, and going on to defeat incumbent President George H.W. Bush. After a failed healthcare reform initiative and huge Republican gains in the midterm elections of 1994, Clinton moved to the middle, governing as a centrist. And as the first president with a full term in the wake of the Soviet Union’s dissolution, Clinton was widely responsible for charting a new foreign policy course for the U.S., which was now the world’s sole superpower. His foreign interventions in places like Bosnia and Somalia greatly influenced future projections of American power and global events. Clinton left office with budget surpluses and a high approval rating, despite the never-ending controversies swirling around him, and he has since doubled as a political surrogage and global ambassador for his country. American The Life of Bill Clinton chronicles Clinton’s life and career, including all of its famous highs and infamous lows, as well as the controversies and legacy he left in his wake.

\Includes pictures of Earhart and important people, places, and events in her life.\Includes a comprehensive analysis of her disappearance and the prevailing theories surrounding her ultimate fate. \Includes a Bibliography for further reading.\Includes Earhart's most famous and inspiring quotes. \*Includes a Table of Contents. "The stars seemed near enough to touch and never before have I seen so many. I always believed the lure of flying is the lure of beauty, but I was sure of it that night." – Amelia EarhartA 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. During the early 20th century, groundbreaking technology revolutionized transportation both on the ground and in the sky, with new motors making automobiles and airplanes a reality in the 1910s. Around that same time, the feminist movement was underway in the United States, spearheaded by women seeking the right to vote, lobbying for the temperance movement, and trying to make their voices heard. It was at that crossroads that flight pioneer Amelia Earhart found herself in 1919, the very year President Wilson and Congress were trying to shepherd through the 19th Amendment to the Constitution, giving women the right to vote. That year, Earhart was given a ride on a plane piloted by legendary air racer Frank Hawks, and as she recalled, "By the time I had got two or three hundred feet off the ground, I knew I had to fly." Earhart’s unbridled joy for flying was only occasionally abated by a lack of finances, and a recurring sinus issue, but throughout the 1920s she was one of the few women licensed to fly, and she set an altitude record of 14,000 feet for women in 1922. In 1928, Earhart was the first woman to fly across the Atlantic Ocean, but she was disappointed that she had to do so as a passenger, complaining, “I was just baggage, like a sack of potatoes.” Nevertheless, that trip made “Lady Lindy” the “Queen of the Air” in America, and Earhart was now the nation’s best known aviatrix. With her fresh face available for promoting everything from luggage to women’s clothing, Earhart was able to finance her own aviation and remain involved in promoting air travel and flying to skeptical Americans. In May 1932, Earhart finally made her solo flight across the Atlantic, for which she received the Distinguished Flying Cross from Congress, the Cross of Knight of the Legion of Honor from the French Government and the Gold Medal of the National Geographic Society from President Herbert Hoover.By the mid-1930s, Earhart had set many altitude and distance records, but she wanted to attempt a circumnavigation of the world. After an ill-fated first attempt, Earhart and Fred Noonan set off on another attempt, creating one of the 20th century’s most enduring mysteries. Earhart and Noonan were to land on Howland Island, 1700 miles southwest of Hawaii, but radio transmissions ceased between the plane and authorities on the ground the morning of July 2, 1937. Earhart and Noonan had disappeared, never to be seen again, despite one of the nation’s largest and costliest manhunts. Unfortunately, the speculation over exactly what happened to Earhart and the mystery of her disappearance have come to overshadow and obscure her many accomplishments.

\Includes pictures of important people, places, and events. \Includes Gable's quotes about his own career and working with other Hollywood stars. \Includes a bibliography for further reading.\Includes a table of contents. “The only reason they come to see me is that I know that life is great—and they know I know it.“ – Clark GableA 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 1930s were, without a doubt, the height of the classical Hollywood era. It is no accident that 1939 has historically been designated as the pinnacle of Hollywood film history. The era was known for its lavish studio productions, with MGM, RKO, Warner Brothers, Paramount, and 20th Century Fox all operating at the height of their powers. Every major studio possessed a long roster of contract players, with films released at such a rapid pace that it made for an especially competitive environment within the industry. Even while America remained in the throes of the Great Depression, the film industry continued to flourish, and movies easily supplanted the theater as the main attraction for American entertainment. Indeed, it would be no exaggeration to claim that the film industry reached its zenith during the decade precisely because it offered an affordable (if very temporary) escape from the anxieties of the economic woes of the era. The 1930s were also a time in which Hollywood boasted an unprecedented array of famous leading men. Gary Cooper, Cary Grant, James Stewart, and Fred Astaire were just a handful of the A-list stars of the decade, and it is in this context that the achievements of Clark Gable are particularly remarkable. Best known for his role in Gone With the Wind (1939), Gable reached the ranks of the Hollywood elite well before the end of the decade through acting in films such as It Happened One Night (1934) and Mutiny on the Bounty (1935). Gable had a unique appeal that captivated Depression-era audiences; while Cary Grant offered a sophisticated charm and Fred Astaire was tied to the musical genre, Gable brought an air of sophistication that was less comical than that of Grant and appealed to both genders, unlike Astaire. At a time when so many Americans were financially destitute, Gable managed to appear classy without coming across as snobbish. At the same time, his virile masculinity was not overly macho or misogynist. For these reasons, Gable was able to captivate male and female viewers alike, and his mass appeal was a driving force behind the commercial success of Gone With the Wind, possibly the most beloved Hollywood film ever made. As iconic director John Huston once stated, “Clark Gable was the only real he-man I've ever known, of all the actors I've met.”Even if Gable is perhaps less widely-known than Grant or Astaire among 21st century audiences, examining the effect he had on viewers during the 1930s and 1940s allows a better understanding of Hollywood during its Golden Age. In conjunction with that, his career served as a sort of response to his upbringing and cultural background. In fact, there was a significant gap between his glamorous roles on the movie screen and the real-life adversity he faced from an early age. Gable faced great challenges throughout his entire career, from the death of his biological mother to the death of wife Carol Lombard in 1942. As with any famous actor, he was the recipient of great fortune, yet it is important to recognize that his many opportunities did not preclude him from experiencing great pain and tragedy.

\Includes pictures.\Includes Lombard's quotes about her life and career.\Includes a bibliography for further reading.\Includes a table of contents. “Carole Lombard's tragic death means that something of gaiety and beauty have been taken from the world at a time they are needed most.“ – Errol FlynnA 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. On January 16, 1942, just a few weeks after Pearl Harbor brought the United States into World War II, the nation suffered what were considered the first civilian deaths of the war when a plane crashed into the side of a mountain southwest of Las Vegas. Aboard the plane were 15 servicemen, but the plane was also carrying one of Hollywood’s biggest actress Carole Lombard. Although Lombard’s death and her marriage to Gone With the Wind star Clark Gable have overshadowed her career, her untimely death in 1942 cut short the life of one of Hollywood’s most prominent stars at the time. In fact, Lombard’s platinum look and her unique mannerisms had helped her become the biggest star of the screwball genre by the end of the 1930s, and her movies were so successful that she was the highest paid actress in Hollywood by the start of the 1940s. As English critic Graham Greene said of her, "Platinum blonde, with a heart-shaped face, delicate, impish features and a figure made to be swathed in silver lamé, Lombard wriggled expressively through such classics of hysteria as Twentieth Century and My Man Godfrey." Indeed, despite dying at the age of 33, the American Film Institute recognized her as one of the biggest film icons of the 20th century.Although Lombard has been memorialized in many fitting ways as an actress, one of her biggest contributions to Hollywood was the blond archetype that the film industry used successfully for decades in screwball comedies, paving the way for the success of women like Marilyn Monroe. Perhaps the most remarkable aspect of that fact is that it was actually based on Carole’s gushing personality. As famous director Howard Hawks noted of her, "She acted like a schoolgirl ... and she was stiff, she would try and imagine a character and then act according to her imaginings instead of being herself." When Lombard started simply portraying herself, Hawks told actor John Barrymore, “\[Y\] ou've just seen a girl that's probably going to be big a star, and if we can just keep her from acting, we'll have a hell of a picture.”American The Life of Carole Lombard examines the life and career of one of the Golden Era of Hollywood’s biggest stars. Along with pictures of important people, places, and events, you will learn about Carole Lombard like never before, in no time at all.

\Includes pictures of Davis and important people, places, and scenes. \Includes Davis' own quotes about her upbringing, films and relationships.\Includes a Bibliography for further reading.\Includes a Table of Contents. "Even the most inconsiderable film ... seemed temporarily better than they were because of that precise, nervy voice, the pale ash-blond hair, the popping, neurotic eyes, a kind of corrupt and phosphorescent prettiness ... I would rather watch Miss Davis than any number of competent pictures." – English critic Graham Greene, 1936A 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. Bette Davis presided over Hollywood at a time in which the film industry was at its most influential. Every actress from Katharine Hepburn to Ingrid Bergman and Ginger Rodgers, themselves now considered among Hollywood’s greatest icons, lived in the shadow of Bette Davis. Not only was Davis a box office sensation and commercial success - she became the highest paid actress in 1938 - but she garnered more critical acclaim than any other actress during the time period, as evidenced by the fact that she was the first actress to be nominated for 10 Academy Awards. Even more than two decades after her death, Davis remains popular, and films of hers, most notably All About Eve (1950) and Now, Voyager (1942), are routinely viewed by the public and continue to be taught in college film classes. Recently, her place in history was cemented when she was named as the second greatest actress of the 20th century by the American Film Institute behind only Katharine Hepburn (AFI 100 Years…100 Stars). Her legacy remains unbroken, not only because of her own film performances but also due to the influence she had on subsequent actresses.While no one would question Bette Davis’ importance in American film history, it is impossible not to acknowledge that her persona carries a novelty highly distinct from that of other actresses. Davis admittedly never possessed the glamour of Marlene Dietrich, Ingrid Bergman, or other such stars of the time period. Even Katharine Hepburn, another eccentric contemporary of hers, was considered far more capable of playing a romantic lead than Davis. As a result, Davis was relegated to appearing in roles that were less glamorous, unfortunate or even unsympathetic. At the same time, there were benefits that went along with the limitations; Davis was denied the opportunity to appear as attractive as possible before the audience, but she was also able to achieve a unique niche and receive roles that were in many respects more interesting than the one-dimensional characters portrayed by her contemporaries. In this regard, it was her “otherness” that paved the way for Bette Davis to receive the roles that would give her more wealth and critical acclaim than any actress that had come before her. American The Life of Bette Davis profiles the life and career of one of America’s most iconic actresses. Along with pictures of important people, places, and events, you will learn about Bette Davis like you never have before, in no time at all.

\Includes a Bibliography of Salinger's works.\Analyzes The Catcher in the Rye and Salinger's literary career.\*Includes a Table of Contents."I love to write and I assure you I write regularly…But I write for myself, for my own pleasure. And I want to be left alone to do it.” – J.D. SalingerA 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. J.D. Salinger might have been one of America’s greatest 20th century authors, but only he knows for sure. As a young adult, Salinger wrote a number of short stories that were published during the 1940s in Story magazine, and his story "A Perfect Day for Bananafish" appeared in The New Yorker magazine to wide praise. Salinger followed that up with his most famous work, the 1951 novel The Catcher in the Rye, which was popular among adults and adolescents alike. Regardless of whether Salinger was one of the 20th century’s greatest authors, he was certainly one of the most unique. In the aftermath of his novel’s incredible success, Salinger became steadily more reclusive, publishing less and less in the 1950s until he disappeared entirely from the public eye for the last 40 years of his life. Salinger was rarely heard from, except for when he was filing lawsuits alleging copyright infringement to protect his work, and in one of his few statements, he stated, “There is a marvelous peace in not publishing…I pay for this kind of attitude. I'm known as a strange, aloof kind of man. But all I'm doing is trying to protect myself and my work.” By all accounts, including his own statements, Salinger continued to write for himself throughout the decades until his death from natural causes in 2010. As the reclusive author himself noted, “I like to write. I live to write. But I write just for myself and my own pleasure. ... I don't necessarily intend to publish posthumously, but I do like to write for myself.” Naturally, Salinger’s reclusive nature has added a mystique to the man and his work, as people continue to pore over The Catcher in the Rye and its author’s life, even though Salinger himself described Holden Caulfield as “only a frozen moment in time.” In an ironic sense, Salinger’s desire to be left alone has only made him more intriguing, giving fans and interested people even more motivation to discover more about him. In American The Life of J.D. Salinger, which includes an annotated bibliography of Salinger’s published works, you will learn about Salinger like you never have before, in no time at all.

\Includes pictures of important people and places.\Includes some of Fitzgerald's most famous quotes.\Analyzes the real life inspirations behind Fitzgerald's work and the stormy relationship with Zelda. \Includes a Bibliography for further reading.\*Includes a Table of Contents. "All good writing is swimming under water and holding your breath." – F. Scott FitzgeraldA 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 1920s in the United States were known as the “Roaring Twenties” and the Jazz Age, a time in the nation that glorified hard and fast living. Nobody personified the age or wrote so descriptively about it better than F. Scott Fitzgerald (1896-1940), whose name became synonymous with the times after penning the epic Great Gatsby. Along with his dazzling wife Zelda, Fitzgerald was all too keen to play the role. When his writing made them celebrities, they were celebrated by the national press for being “young, seemingly wealthy, beautiful, and energetic.” While Scott used their relationship as material in his novels, Zelda wrote herself, and she also strove to become a ballerina. However, the Fitzgeralds barely outlasted the ‘20s. Their hard living left Fitzgerald, a notorious alcoholic, in poor health by the ‘30s. Financially broke, he would die of a massive heart attack in 1940, by which time Zelda had already suffered various mental illnesses. Zelda died in a freak fire in 1948, both Fitzgeralds having burned out almost as quickly as they had shined. Interest in the Fitzgeralds, and particularly F. Scott Fitzgerald’s writing, revived in the ‘50s and has been steady ever since, with Fitzgerald’s Great Gatsby and other stories like This Side of Paradise being read in classrooms across the United States. In addition to their extraordinary literary quality, they continue to represent the optimism of the Roaring Twenties. American The Life of F. Scott Fitzgerald profiles the life and career of one of America’s most famous writers and cultural icons. Along with pictures of important people, places, and events, you will learn about F. Scott Fitzgerald like you never have before, in no time at all.

\Includes over 15 pictures of the important people and events in Kennedy's life\Includes a Table of ContentsA 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 many ways, John Fitzgerald Kennedy and his young family were the perfect embodiment of the ‘60s. The decade began with a sense of idealism, personified by the attractive Kennedy, his beautiful and fashionable wife Jackie, and his young children. Months into his presidency, Kennedy exhorted the country to reach for the stars, calling upon the nation to send a man to the Moon and back by the end of the decade. In 1961, Kennedy made it seem like anything was possible, and Americans were eager to believe him. The Kennedy years were fondly and famously labeled “Camelot,” by Jackie herself, suggesting an almost mythical quality about the young President and his family. As it turned out, the ‘60s closely reflected the glossy, idealistic portrayal of John F. Kennedy, as well as the uglier truths. The country would achieve Kennedy’s goal of a manned moon mission, and the landmark Civil Rights Act of 1964 finally guaranteed minorities their civil rights and restored equality, ensuring that the country “would live out the true meaning of its creed.” But the idealism and optimism of the decade was quickly shattered, starting with Kennedy’s assassination in 1963. The ‘60s were permanently marred by the Vietnam War, and by the time Robert F. Kennedy and Martin Luther King, Jr. were assassinated in 1968, the country was irreversibly jaded. The events of the decade produced protests and countercultures unlike anything the country had seen before, as young people came of age more quickly than ever.American The Life of John F. Kennedy humanizes the nation’s youngest elected president, explaining the roots of the Kennedy family, the basis for Kennedy’s presidential ambitions, his war service and journalism, his political career and assassination, and all of the accomplishments and shortcomings inbetween. Along the way, you will learn interesting facts about JFK you never knew, like which famous relative also died on November 22, and see pictures of the important people and events in Kennedy’s life. Learn about President Kennedy like you never have before, in no time at all.

\*Includes Patton's most colorful and inspiring quotes, including his famous Speech to the Third Army. \*Includes pictures of Patton and other important people. \*Includes a Bibliography for further reading. “Americans love to fight, traditionally. All real Americans love the sting and clash of battle. You are here today for three reasons. First, because you are here to defend your homes and your loved ones. Second, you are here for your own self respect, because you would not want to be anywhere else. Third, you are here because you are real men and all real men like to fight.” – George Patton, Speech to the Third Army 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. Rommel, Guderian, Liddell-Hart and JFC Fuller were all early exponents and practitioners of armored warfare, tactics that were to break the stalemate that had characterized World War I. Advocates of the tank and above all speed, it was their ideas which decimated Saddam Hussein’s forces in the 1990 Gulf War. But among the proponents and practitioners of armored warfare, the brash, bold, arrogant and eccentric George S. Patton remains the world’s greatest armored commander by the one yardstick that really the battlefield. In 1944-45, Patton’s Third Army raced across northern Europe, covering more ground and destroying more enemy resources than any other equivalent force in history. Patton is one of America’s most celebrated generals and one of the most famous generals of the 20th century, but his story has its origins in the form of a shy, dyslexic boy who could cry uncontrollably and who viewed his own emotional intelligence as unmanly. Patton was a fascinating, complicated and controversial man whose life story ranges between genius, folly and tragedy, with absolute determination the one constant theme. He was also a man constantly on the move, whether it was as an Olympic athlete or as one of the first American soldiers to work with tanks in World War I, but his life’s work truly went toward revolutionizing warfare on and off the battlefield. Between the two World Wars, he wrote at length about mechanized warfare and tactics, and during the Second World War he worked his way up colorfully, controversially, and capably, all of which made him more conspicuous during the war. Patton’s shocking death just a few months after the war ended ensured that the general died at the height of his fame and would always be remembered for his legendary attitude and exploits. American The Life of General George Patton profiles the amazing life and career of the American war hero, while also examining his personality and analyzing his lasting legacy. Along with pictures of important people, places, and events, you will learn about Patton like you never have before, in no time at all.

\Includes pictures of Taylor and important people, places, and scenes. \Includes Taylor's own quotes about her upbringing, films and relationships.\Includes a Bibliography for further reading.\Includes a Table of Contents. "I've always admitted that I'm ruled by my passions." – Elizabeth TaylorA 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. Hollywood is full of cautionary tales for child actors like Judy Garland, Jackie Coogan, and Macaulay Caulkin, who all soared to fame in their youth only to suffer family feuds, drug addiction, or other ill effects of becoming famous so early in life. Even those child actors for whom stardom was not traumatic, such as Shirley Temple, had great difficulty succeeding in Hollywood as an adult, with their careers effectively over by the time they reached adulthood. Child actors may or may not enjoy the fame bestowed upon them so early in life, but their fame has almost always come at a cost, especially since it has traditionally been difficult for audiences to disassociate them from their early roles. On the other hand, the life of Elizabeth Taylor bears little in common with the paradigm of the troubled child star. After arriving in the United States at the age of 9, Taylor was indoctrinated into the life of the Hollywood studio system shortly after child stars Judy Garland and Mickey Rooney, but while Garland suffered great trauma at the hands of the studio system, Taylor’s early experience in Hollywood represented the flip side of the coin. Groomed for a life in Hollywood by her zealous mother, Taylor enjoyed her life in the motion picture industry and reveled in the privileged lifestyle and opportunities she enjoyed by virtue of her profession. Acting supplied her with a lavish lifestyle and, more importantly for her, constant attention. From an early age, Taylor displayed a vociferous love for living in the public eye. Another difference separating her from other child stars is that Taylor was able to successfully transition from child star to major adult actress; in fact, her fame only escalated as she grew into adulthood. In many ways, Taylor enjoyed being in the public spotlight and living the lifestyle of the rich and famous, and her personal life very much resembled a performance suitable for Hollywood. Taylor faced great adversity throughout her life, including being married on eight different occasions to seven different spouses and fighting battles with weight and drug addiction. Still, while many actors grow resentful of public attention, even during her moments of personal struggle Taylor thrived on public attention and enjoyed a mutually adoring relationship with the American public. She was a creature of the studio system, yet she maintained a dynamic with the public that deviated sharply from the norms of child actors. American The Life of Elizabeth Taylor examines the life and career of Elizabeth Taylor, putting the spotlight on Taylor’s child roles and her adult films, and the relationship between the two main stages of her career. Of course, it also documents the notorious elements of her personal life as well. Along with pictures of important people, places, and events, you will learn about Elizabeth Taylor like never before, in no time at all.

\Discusses some of the legends and controversies surrounding Bowie's life, including the origins of the Bowie knife and Bowie's fate at the Alamo. \Includes pictures of Bowie and other important people and places in his life.\Includes a Bibliography for further reading.\Includes a Table of Contents."I'll wage they found no bullets in his back." - Jim Bowie's mother after hearing of his death at the Alamo.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. Jim Bowie is one of 19th century America’s most famous names, even if what’s known about the man is more legend than fact. Like Daniel Boone and Davy Crockett, Bowie has come to represent the pioneering spirit of the frontier, along with the masculinity, machismo and swagger that earned him a reputation for fighting. And like any good legend, he is perhaps best remembered for his death at the Alamo than for any aspect of his life. Bowie’s death and the defenders’ defeat at the Alamo did not have a decisive impact on Texas’ War for Independence, but it became a poignant rallying cry in the immediate aftermath of the battle, and to this day Americans associate it with patriotism, bravery and determination. “Remember the Alamo” is still a widely used part of the English lexicon today, and the Alamo is a cherished piece of Americana. Much of Bowie’s participation in the Alamo is still controversial, and fittingly he was known across America before that for another controversy. In what became known as the notorious Sandbar Fight of 1827, a duel between two men turned into a large fight that included Bowie, who was shot and stabbed during the melee but still managed to stab to death the sheriff of Rapides Parish in Louisiana with a large knife that has since become universally known as the Bowie knife. Between that fight and his death, Bowie became one of the Western frontier’s most celebrated folk heroes. American The Life of Jim Bowie chronicles the life, myths and legends of the frontier folk hero, examining the known and unknown in an attempt to separate fact from fiction. Along with pictures of important people and places, you will learn about Bowie like you never have before, in no time at all.

\Includes pictures of Burr and important people and places. \Comprehensively covers the Burr-Hamilton duel, including accounts of the duel and the mysteries and debates still surrounding the duel.\Explains Burr's involvement in the Election of 1800 and the alleged treasonous conspiracy. \Includes a Table of Contents. “The rule of my life is to make business a pleasure and pleasure my business.” – Aaron BurrA 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 all the annals of American history, it is hard if not impossible to find a figure with a more controversial legacy than Aaron Burr, one of the most reviled yet mysterious characters of the last 200 years. Today Burr is remembered almost solely for participating in the nation’s most famous duel on July 11, 1804, which resulted in the death of instrumental Founding Father Alexander Hamilton, but it is often forgotten that Burr killed Hamilton while he was Thomas Jefferson’s sitting Vice President. As if that wasn’t incredible enough, Burr’s path to the Vice Presidency sparked a Constitutional crisis after the Election of 1800, and in addition to leading to the establishment of the 12th Amendment, it was Hamilton’s support of his principal political foe Jefferson over Burr that helped ignite the arguments that culminated with their duel. Burr was charged with murder for participating in the controversial and illegal duel, bringing his political career to an end, but he saved his most controversial act for last. After leaving politics, Burr headed west, where he engaged in a mysterious and convoluted scheme that eventually led to charges of treason for conspiring to create a new Western empire. Like the murder charges, he was never convicted of treason for the controversial and confusing conspiracy, but Burr had burned nearly every bridge by then. Having incurred massive debt, Burr took to practicing law and staying out of the public eye for the rest of his life. American The Life of Aaron Burr chronicles the controversial life and legacy of the nation’s 3rd Vice President, but it also humanizes him and looks at contemporary accounts that paint Burr in a more positive light as well. Along with pictures of important people, places, and events, you will learn about Aaron Burr like you never have before, in no time at all.

EDITING ISSUES WERE FIXED ON 8/22/12\Includes some of Adams' most famous quotes. \Includes pictures of Adams and important people, places, and events in his life. \Analyzes and explains Adams' controversial reputation and legacy.\Includes a Bibliography for further reading.\*Includes a Table of Contents."The liberties of our Country, the freedom of our civil constitution are worth defending at all And it is our duty to defend them against all attacks.” – Samuel AdamsA 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 American Revolution had no shortage of compelling characters with seemingly larger than life traits, including men like the multi-talented Benjamin Franklin, the wise Thomas Jefferson, the mercurial John Adams and the stoic George Washington. But no Revolutionary leader has been as controversial as Samuel Adams, who has been widely portrayed over the last two centuries as America’s most radical and fiery colonist. Among his contemporaries, Adams was viewed as one of the most influential colonial leaders, a man Thomas Jefferson himself labeled “truly the Man of the Revolution” and the one who the Boston Gazette eulogized as the “Father of the American Revolution.” Adams was an outspoken opponent of British taxes in the 1760s, one of Boston’s hardest working writers and orators, a leader of the Boston Caucus, active in the Sons of Liberty, and a political leader who organized large gatherings in settings like Faneuil Hall and the Old South Meeting House. When cousin John Adams was an Ambassador to France during the Revolution, he had to explain that he was not the “famous” Adams. At the same time, Adams’s zeal for his cause was unquestioned and unrivaled. During the Revolution, Adams exhorted his countrymen, "If ye love wealth greater than liberty, the tranquility of servitude greater than the animating contest for freedom, go home from us in peace. We seek not your counsel, nor your arms. Crouch down and lick the hand that feeds you; May your chains set lightly upon you, and may posterity forget that ye were our countrymen." Today historians believe that Adams’s legacy as a radical firebrand came from the British, who naturally viewed Adams as an incendiary troublemaker, and it is widely believed that important events like the Boston Massacre and Boston Tea Party were incorrectly attributed to the sway Adams held over the town. The exaggeration of Adams as the one man who could control a mob took hold, and even as modern historians try to recast Adams in a more moderate light, he continues to be remembered as the American Revolution’s most ardent patriot. Naturally, Adams’s reputation and activities before and during the Revolution have come to dominate the history books and Americans’ perceptions of him, so many remain unfamiliar with his post-war life. In fact, Adams was one of the most instrumental leaders in Massachusetts, helping draft the state’s constitution during the Revolution and becoming one of its earliest governors after the Revolution. American The Life of Samuel Adams chronicles the amazing life and career of Samuel Adams, while also analyzing the notorious legacy he left behind.

\Includes pictures of Helen Keller and important people in her life.\Includes Helen's quotes on politics, religion, inspiration, and more. \Includes a Bibliography for further reading.\Includes a Table of Contents"Most people measure their happiness in terms of physical pleasure and material possession. Could they win some visible goal which they have set on the horizon, how happy they could be! Lacking this gift or that circumstance, they would be miserable. If happiness is to be so measured, I who cannot hear or see have every reason to sit in a corner with folded hands and weep. If I am happy in spite of my deprivations, if my happiness is so deep that it is a faith, so thoughtful that it becomes a philosophy of life, — if, in short, I am an optimist, my testimony to the creed of optimism is worth hearing..” – Helen KellerA 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. To say Helen Keller is one of the most unique figures in American history would be an understatement. As a young child, Helen lost both her vision and hearing, leaving her deafblind, an almost hopelessly debilitating condition that left her literally trapped, unable to communicate with anyone. As she would later write, “My life was without past or future; death, the pessimist would say, ‘a consummation devoutly to be wished.’" Nobody would have blamed her for being hopelessly frustrated and imprisoned by her disabilities; in fact, that was to be expected. When her famous teacher, Anne Sullivan, brought Helen a doll and tried to teach her a few words by spelling them into her hand, the child became so frustrated that she broke the doll.As every American now knows, Helen eventually overcame the frustration and used unimaginable perseverance to overcome her disability. With Sullivan’s help and the sense of touch, Helen eventually broke through and learned to communicate. Helen later recalled that after Sullivan put one of her hands in water and spelled water on the other hand, “I stood still, my whole attention fixed upon the motions of her fingers. Suddenly I felt a misty consciousness as of something forgotten—a thrill of returning thought; and somehow the mystery of language was revealed to me.”Helen’s story would have been remarkable enough if it had ended simply with her ability to communicate with the outside world, but “I had now the key to all language, and I was eager to learn to use it.” With unbridled ambition, Helen became the first deafblind individual to earn a bachelor’s degree from a college, published her own autobiography when she was just 22, and in the early 20th century became famous across the world as both an author and speaker. Naturally, Helen was a walking embodiment and advocate for people with disabilities, both the blind and deaf, but she was just as interested in other social and political causes, eventually becoming one of the most outspoken figures of her time. Those who were inspired by her story were surprised that she was willing to voice what they believed were radical beliefs on behalf of causes like women’s suffrage, pacifism, and socialism. Helen also added actions to her words, founding both the Helen Keller International organization for research in vision, health and nutrition, and helping found the American Civil Liberties Union.

\Includes 20 pictures of Hamilton and some of the important people, places, and events of his life. \Discusses the mysteries of the Hamilton-Burr duel\*Includes a Table of ContentA 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 been revered by Americans for over 200 years, celebrated for creating a new nation founded upon the loftiest ideals of democracy and meritocracy. But if the American Dream has come to represent the ability to climb the social ladder with skill and hard work, no Founding Father represented the new America more than Alexander Hamilton. Unfortunately, one of the best known aspects of Hamilton’s (1755-1804) life is the manner in which he died, shot and killed in a famous duel with Aaron Burr in 1804. But Hamilton started as an orphaned child in the West Indies before becoming one of the most instrumental Founding Fathers of the United States in that time, not only in helping draft and gain support for the U.S. Constitution but in also leading the Federalist party and building the institutions of the young federal government as Washington’s Secretary of Treasury. Hamilton is also well remembered for his authorship, along with John Jay and James Madison, of the Federalist Papers. The Federalist Papers sought to rally support for the Constitution’s approval when those three anonymously wrote them, but they demonstrate how men of vastly different political ideologies came to accept the same Constitution. Like the other American Legends, much of Hamilton’s personal life has been overshadowed by the momentous events in which he participated, from the Revolutionary War to the most famous duel in American history. American The Life of Alexander Hamilton covers the amazing and various facets of Hamilton’s life and career, putting a human touch on the man who gave as good as he got, but always put what he felt were the country’s interests ahead of his own political interests. Along with pictures of Hamilton and other important people and events in his life, you will learn about this Founding Father like you never have before, in no time at all.

"There are two reasons why I'm in show business, and I'm standing on both of them." - Betty Grable 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, listeners 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. No history of American pop culture in the 1940s would be complete without mention of Betty Grable, the most popular pin-up girl of the World War II era. Grable possessed the outstanding fortune of not only having an ideal body but arriving at the most fortuitous time imaginable; the famous pin-up photo of her, taken by Frank Powolny, made her the highest-earning actress in Hollywood from 1943 to 1951. Indeed, it was not hyperbole that earned Grable the nickname of "the girl with the million dollar legs" - not only were her legs famously adored by American soldiers fighting overseas, they were actually insured to the tune of one million dollars (Suddath). Grable was the banner actress for the era before the advent of Playboy and other publications designed to satisfy the lust of the heterosexual male, an era that objectified women but in a more wholesome, less pornographic way that was designed to reinforce all-American values.

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 Edward Kennedy was born in 1932, he was the youngest sibling in a family destined to produce some of America’s most influential political leaders. By the time he was a teenager, his oldest brother, Joseph Kennedy Jr., had died a war hero, his brother John was on the fast track to political stardom, and his brother Bobby was managing John’s campaigns. Though Ted was a star athlete, his parents were more focused on his older brothers. Ted may not have been the center of attention in the Kennedy family then or now, but he had the same charisma and skills of his older brothers, as well as the same controversial vices. And as fate would have it, Ted’s political legacy may have eclipsed them all. His brothers were victims of two of the country’s most tragic assassinations, two other siblings died in plane crashes, and he would have to eulogize nephews. But Ted had the extra gift of length of years, surviving his encounter with the “Kennedy Curse”, a 1964 plane crash that severely injured and nearly killed him. Although controversy ensured Ted would never be president, he spent nearly half a century in the U.S. Senate, forging a legacy that earned him the nickname “The Lion of the Senate”. Indeed, in the course of becoming the 4th longest serving Senator in American history, Ted became the patriarch of both the Kennedy family and the Democratic Party, as well as one of the most forceful and outspoken advocates of progressivism. But he also held the respect of his Republican counterparts, and Ted was able to bridge political gaps in the process of authoring and sponsoring hundreds of bills that became law. American The Life of Ted Kennedy details Ted’s life and career within the Kennedy family and the political world, including all of its famous ups and infamous downs, while also analyzing the legacy of the youngest Kennedy brother. Along with pictures of Ted and important people, places, and events in his life, you will learn about The Lion of the Senate like you never have before, in no time at all.

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, listeners 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. With the notable exception of Mark Twain, whose roots along the Mississippi River factored so thoroughly into his life story and his literature, America's greatest writers have rarely been categorized by or associated with a specific region of the country. And among America's greatest 20th century writers, many have been identified with a specific era, such as F. Scott Fitzgerald and the 1920s, or even as part of a community of expatriates, like Ernest Hemingway and Gertrude Stein. William Faulkner is an exception to that rule, and a prolific and influential one at that. The reclusive Southerner, who died about 40 miles away from his birthplace in New Albany, Mississippi, was associated with the South as a region and Southern literature in particular throughout his career, at least when he was associated with anything at all. Faulkner toiled in relative obscurity for much of his life, and it was only after he earned a Nobel Prize in 1949 that he truly entered the national radar. He later joked about his own neighbors, "Some folks wouldn't even speak when they passed me on the street...it wasn't until the Nobel Prize that they really thawed out

\Explains Joseph Smith's life and the founding of the Mormon Church\Includes pictures of Smith and important people, places, and events in his life.\Includes a Bibliography for further reading.\Includes a Table of Contents. “Our missionaries are going forth to different nations, and in Germany, Palestine, New Holland, the East Indies, and other places, the standard of truth has been no unhallowed hand can stop the work from progressing, persecutions may rage, mobs may combine, armies may assemble, calumny may defame, but the truth of God will go forth boldly, nobly, and independent till it has penetrated every continent, visited every clime, swept every country, and sounded in every ear, till the purposes of God shall be accomplished and the great Jehovah shall say the work is done.” – Joseph SmithA 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. Among all the various figures in 19th century America who left controversial legacies, it is hard to find one as influential as Joseph Smith (1805-1844), the founder of the The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, Mormonism, and the Latter Day Saint movement. Revered as a prophet on the level of Moses by some, reviled as a perpetrator of large-scale fraud by others, what everyone can agree on is that Joseph Smith founded a religious movement that played a crucial role in the settlement of the West, especially in Utah. Locating Joseph Smith in history is to look for the "mess" of early America and find him standing in the middle, trying to make sense of the "native pandemonium" that gripped the nation in its formative years. All the things that Mormon recoil at, the mention of his treasure seeking days of youth, the use of the seer stones and looking into the hat to read "reformed Egyptian" help explain the youthful creativeness of a young United States trying to organize itself. There is a humor in his story, and especially those first years of creating the church that speak directly anyone who has felt the exhilaration of creativity. Inspired by the Second Great Awakening evidence of Native American cultures that surrounded him during his early years in western New York, Smith claimed that he had visions as a young adult that helped him produce the Book of Mormon, and he was able to create a society of like-minded followers who intended to strike west and found Zion. Smith’s dream of Zion would lead the way for the trials and the tribulations of the Mormons for the rest of the 19th century, including countless conflicts with local authorities and the U.S. government. Smith himself would be a casualty of the clashing, murdered by a mob in 1844 after being imprisoned in Carthage, Illinois near the settlement of Nauvoo, which Smith had painstakingly tried to create as a commune for his people.American The Life of Joseph Smith profiles the life of Joseph Smith, the founding of his religion, and the aftermath of his death. Along with pictures of important people, places, and events, you will learn about Joseph Smith like you never have before, in no time at all.

\Includes two dozen pictures of Franklin and the important people, places, and events in his life.\Includes a list of famous quotes from Poor Richard's Almanack\Includes a list of some of Franklin's most important inventions \Explains some of the myths and legends of Franklin, including whether he actually flew a kite in a thunderstormA 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. Before the United States of America even existed, the first American celebrity was Benjamin Franklin (1706-1790). In his career, Franklin was an author, printer, political theorist, politician, postmaster, scientist, musician, inventor, satirist, civic activist, statesman, and diplomat. After having his hand in all kinds of community service in Philadelphia, and inventing important devices like lightning rods, Franklin used his unique status as an international celebrity to become the colonies’ best diplomat, first as an ambassador to Britan and then as an ambassador to France during the American Revolution. Franklin was particularly revered in Enlightened France, where he skillfully negotiated French entry into the Revolutionary War in a manner that practically bankrupted them, a critical step that helped the colonists win their independence. After negotiating the Treaty of Paris, Franklin played a role at the Constitutional Convention in his adopted home town of Philadelphia during the twilight of his life. Like other Founding Fathers, Franklin’s lengthy career and magnificent exploits have been heavily embellished, to the point that some of the myths of Franklin’s life are better known than the man himself. In addition to highlighting his life and legacy, American The Life of Benjamin Franklin also humanizes the First American, a charming ladies’ man who had a bitter falling out with his son over the Revolution. Along with pictures of Franklin and other important people and events in his life, you will learn about Franklin like you never have before, in no time at all.

\Includes 15 pictures of Jackson and important people, places and events in his life.\Includes a Table of ContentsA 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 United States of America has had many presidents that Americans agree were either great or awful, while some fall into a mediocre category of irrelevance. In many cases a national consensus has been reached on men like Abraham Lincoln and James Buchanan. But the president with the most controversial legacy might be “Old Hickory”, Andrew Jackson. In his lifetime, Jackson came to represent what middle class Americans viewed as the quintessential American. Jackson had a modest upbringing, served as a teenager during the American Revolution, became a war hero during the War of 1812, and championed populism and the common American during his presidency. He also embodied courage and manliness, famously carrying a bullet from a duel in his body for decades until his death. On the other hand, critics continue to charge that Jackson’s legacy is irreversibly stained by his stances on slavery and Native Americans. Jackson opposed the idea of secession but helped keep the antebellum slave system in place, but he is most notorious for his forcible removal of thousands of Native Americans, the best known being the Cherokees’ “Trail of Tears”. When the Supreme Court ruled that the state of Georgia could not impose laws upon the Cherokees, Jackson is popularly quoted (though apocryphally) as dismissing the decision, “John Marshall has made his decision; now let him enforce it."With Jackson as controversial today as ever before, the dueling narratives over his legacy often overshadow the man. American The Life of Andrew Jackson discusses some of the popular legends of Jackson and covers his career and presidency, but it also humanizes a feisty teenager yearning to fight, and ultimately the aggressive man with a short temper who comprehensively shifted the country’s direction and set it down an irreversible course, for better or worse.

\Chronicles Al Capone's rise in Chicago and the efforts of Eliot Ness and the Untouchables to bring him down.\Includes pictures of Ness and important people, places, and events in his life.\Includes a Bibliography for further reading.\Includes a Table of Contents. "Unquestionably, it was going to be highly dangerous. Yet I felt it was quite natural to jump at the task. After all, if you don't like action and excitement, you don't go into police work. And, what the hell, I figured, nobody lives forever!" – Eliot Ness 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 early decades of the 20th century featured a series of growing pains for the United States as the nation entered a new century, a rapidly changing world, and a new stage in its own evolution. All at once, it seemed, American society was attempting to deal with the excesses and injustices of a rapidly industrializing and increasingly centralized economy, a wave of immigration changing the ethnic make-up of the country, and the emergence of new social movements fighting for causes like women’s right to vote.It was also the era of the American gangster, during which men like Al Capone famously and infamously strutted their stuff. The Brooklyn born kid with Italian roots would become the face of a multi-ethnic urban America, an early innovator in an almost corporate approach to organized crime, and a savvy manipulator of big-city politics. His mixture of sophistication and savagery mirrored that of a nation trying to harness its considerable but sometimes unruly energies. It was America’s brief and disastrous attempt to outlaw the sale of alcohol—an experiment that in so many ways seemed at odds with a decade some have called The Roaring Twenties—that allowed gangsters to garner the tremendous wealth and wield the outrageous power that made then almost mythical, larger-than-life historical figures. And it was another of Progressivism’s reforms, the establishment of a Federal Income Tax, which would in the end provide for Capone’s downfall.The man most famously associated with Capone’s downfall, of course, is Eliot Ness, thanks in large measure to his own sensationalized version of the events that became the basis for the book Eliot Ness and the Untouchables." That work in turn spawned the memorable television series "The Untouchables", in which Robert Stack plays an intrepid Eliot Ness who has both seemingly omniscient detective skills and the ability to fight tommy-gun wielding gangsters in street battles. That portrayal of Ness was a mythological creation made for TV, but it has also cemented his legacy as the man who brought Al Capone down. “The Untouchables” has mostly obscured what the real man and his real work was like during that critical period, but it has also overshadowed the rest of Ness’s life and career, which saw him mostly try and fail to parlay his success against Capone into success elsewhere. By the time Ness died, he was mostly down and out, and he had no clue that the book he was working on with writer Oscar Fraley would make him one of the most famous law enforcement officials in American history. Some have even dubbed him the patron saint of today’s ATF. American The Life of Eliot Ness looks at the life and career of Eliot Ness, but it also humanizes the man who refused Capone’s bribes and never flinched.

\Includes the seminal Brown v. Board decision, which Marshall successfully argued.\Includes a timeline of Marshall's life, including important cases and events.\Includes pictures of Marshall and important people in his life. \Includes live footnotes and a Table of Contents. "A child born to a black mother in a state like Mississippi…has the same rights as a white baby born to the wealthiest person in the United States. It's not true, but I challenge anyone to say it is not a goal worth working for.” – Thurgood MarshallA 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 the United States, the Civil Rights Movement is sometimes conveniently and narrowly remembered as a mid-20th century phenomenon that began with the 1954 Supreme Court decision invalidating segregation in Brown v. Board, but it actually came into existence long before it is presumed to have done so. In fact, the Movement's primary work was slow, evolving, gradual and long-term. Its more glamorous moments, such as the Montgomery Bus Boycott (1955–1956), the Selma to Montgomery March (1965), and the March on Washington (1963), were mainly supplemental to the all-important grassroots work already going on in communities, churches, legislatures and courts.Nobody is a bigger testament to that fact than Thurgood Marshall, the African-American lawyer who successfully argued the Brown v. Board case. Today Marshall is best known for being the first black Supreme Court justice, but that history setting precedent has come to overshadow the instrumental work he did as chief counsel for the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People. Marshall argued more cases before the Supreme Court than anyone in history and would win nearly 30 of them, including the seminal Brown v. Board case. Marshall was eventually appointed as an appellate justice by President Kennedy and was a very natural choice for the Supreme Court when President Lyndon Johnson appointed him. The appointment of Marshall made history, but Marshall left an indelible mark on American jurisprudence as a liberal anchor on the court for more than two decades. Naturally, he was a progressive voice on the issue of civil rights, and he also took strong stances on criminal procedure cases, including ardent opposition against the death penalty and the strengthening of legal protections for criminal defendants. American The Life of Thurgood Marshall chronicles the amazing life and career of the first black Supreme Court Justice, examining his work and legacy. Along with pictures of important people, places, and events, you will learn about Thurgood Marshall like you never have before, in no time at all.

\Discusses Tyson's life in and out of the ring.\Includes Tyson's most colorful quotes.\Includes pictures of Tyson and important people in his life.\Includes a Table of Contents. “Everybody in boxing probably makes out well except for the fighter.” – Mike TysonA 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. Iron Mike Tyson was one of the most feared opponents to ever step into a boxing ring. With unbelievable power that floored or stopped all but two of his first 28 professional opponents, Tyson began an unprecedented ascent to the top of the boxing world, becoming the youngest champion in history with a second round TKO over Trevor Berbick, the last man to box and defeat Muhammad Ali. That victory, in November 1986, prompted one British sports reporter to write, “The noble and manly art of boxing can at least cease worrying about its immediate future, now it has discovered a heavyweight champion fit to stand alongside Dempsey, Tunney, Louis, Marciano and Ali."Tyson became one of the biggest names in sports during the 1980s and could literally do no wrong in the ring, compiling a 37-0 record with 33 KO/TKOs. On top of that, he was the face of the iconic Nintendo game Mike Tyson’s Punch-Out!!, a favorite among every video gamer in Generations X and Y. It was a stunning rise for a kid who grew up poor with no father in rough neighborhoods of New York City. Taunted for his now instantly recognizable high voice and lisp, Tyson was quick to fight and a petty criminal who became orphaned upon his mother’s death when he was 16. Somehow, 4 years later, he was the heavyweight champion of the world. Unfortunately, as everyone knows today, the unprecedented nature of his rise is rivaled only by his stunning fall from grace. In February 1990, Tyson was knocked out by Buster Douglas in one of boxing’s greatest upsets. Though he won his next few fights, his career was derailed by his conviction for raping Desiree Washington, landing him in prison for 3 of his prime fighting years. When Tyson got out of prison, his career simply became surreal. After winning a few belts back, he lost two bouts to Evander Holyfield, infamously biting part of Holyfield’s ear off out of frustration during the rematch. He had another stint in jail before the end of the ‘90s, and his odd comments before his loss to Lennox Lewis ensured that the man once billed as an all time great was now more of a one man circus than anything else. In 2003, near the end of a career that had netted him $300 million, Tyson declared bankruptcy, hitting rock bottom. Today Tyson is nostalgically remembered as one of boxing’s great heavyweights, but that shares the pedestal with his controversial quotes and antics. American The Life of Mike Tyson looks at the life and career of Iron Mike both inside and outside of the ring, including all his famous ups and infamous downs.

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. Abraham Lincoln (1809–1865) is one of the most famous Americans in history and one of the country’s most revered presidents. Schoolchildren can recite the life story of Lincoln, the “Westerner” who educated himself and became a self made man, rising from lawyer to leader of the new Republican Party before becoming the 16th President of the United States. Lincoln successfully navigated the Union through the Civil War but didn’t live to witness his crowning achievement, becoming the first president assassinated when he was shot at Ford’s Theater by John Wilkes Booth on April 14, 1865. In the generation after the Civil War, Lincoln became an American deity and one of the most written about men in history. With such a sterling reputation, even historians hesitate to write a critical word; in Team of Rivals Doris Kearns Goodwin casts Lincoln as an almost superhuman puppet master in control of his Cabinet’s political machinations and the war’s direction, juggling the balancing act flawlessly. As a result, Lincoln the man is far less known than Lincoln the myth. American The Life of Abraham Lincoln humanizes the leader who rose from humble roots to the highest office in the land, discussing lesser-known facts about Lincoln while tracking his rise, his monumental presidency, and his legacy. Along with pictures of Lincoln and other important people and events in his life, you will learn about Lincoln like you never have before, in no time at all.

\Includes pictures of important people and places in Crazy Horse's life.\Explains the Battle of the Little Bighorn and several Lakota oral legends, including the origins of Crazy Horse's name. \*Includes a Table of Contents"Upon suffering beyond the Red Nation shall rise again and it shall be a blessing for a sick world. A world filled with broken promises, selfishness and separations. A world longing for light again. I see a time of Seven Generations when all the colors of mankind will gather under the Sacred Tree of Life and the whole Earth will become one circle again.” – Crazy HorseA 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. As he lay dying, Tashunke Witco, whose name is literally translated as “His Horse is Spirited” or “His Horse is Crazy,” refused to be placed on an army cot, and he insisted upon being placed on the floor. He had spent his life avoiding white people whenever possible, and after he died, his cousin Touch the Clouds pointed to the blanket covering the dead Chief’s body and said, “This is the lodge of Crazy Horse.” Throughout his life, Tashunke Witco tried to live the life his people had enjoyed for centuries. He never signed a treaty with the U.S. government and was never photographed, largely because he wanted to avoid contact with the settlers encroaching further west upon Native American lands. By staying away from white settlements and military forts, he thus avoided the places where a photographer might be lurking. As the great Lakota leaders surrendered to the U.S. military or were killed, they became symbols of the qualities and character of their people. Red Cloud is often referred to as a symbol of Lakota concession. Sitting Bull is considered symbolic of Lakota spirituality. Crazy Horse, because he delayed surrender and never entered into treaty agreements with the U.S. military, became a symbol of Lakota resistance.Crazy Horse may have fervently wished to avoid white settlers, but he’s a Native American icon today because of the inability to do so. Like Geronimo in the Southwest and Sitting Bull on the Plains, Crazy Horse was a chief who fought in several skirmishes against settlers and U.S. forces during the 1860s, and he became one of the most famous Native Americans in American history because of one fateful confrontation with the legendary Battle of the Little Bighorn, during which an estimated 2,000 Lakota and Cheyenne warriors routed and then annihilated the 7th U.S. Cavalry led by George Custer. That disaster led the American government to double down on its efforts to “pacify” the Plains, and by the end of the decade many of them had surrendered and been moved onto a reservation. Like Sitting Bull, Crazy Horse tried to avoid surrendering for as long as he could, and both suffered a controversial death. American The Life of Crazy Horse chronicles the amazing life of the Lakota leader who defiantly fought to save his people’s homeland, but it also humanizes the man who became one of the most famous Native Americans in American history. Along with pictures of important people, places, and events, you will learn about Crazy Horse like you never have before, in no time at all.

\Includes pictures.\Includes Kelly's quotes about his life and career. \Includes a bibliography for further reading.\Includes a table of contents. “Fred Astaire represented the aristocracy, I represented the proletariat.” – Gene KellyA 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 think of musicals, two of the first names that immediately spring to mind are Gene Kelly and Fred Astaire, two giants of one of Hollywood’s most distinctive genres. Without question, both men played an instrumental role in popularizing and sustaining the musical from the 1930s through the 1950s, the final decades of Hollywood’s Golden Age. Although they did collaborate on two occasions, in many ways Gene Kelly’s rise to popularity in the 1940s amounted to a changing of the guard, because Astaire’s career had begun to wane by the mid-1940s. For film historians and fans of the musical, however, even if they weren’t contemporaries, Astaire and Kelly will forever be viewed as rivals, with each having left an indelible stamp on the genre that defined their careers. Regardless of which dancer viewers film, there is no denying the cultural significance of some of Kelly’s most famous films, including An American in Paris (1949) and Singin’ in the Rain (1952), movies that occupy a central position within the pantheon of Hollywood musicals. While it is true that a comparison between Astaire and Kelly is indispensible to any study of Kelly’s life, much can also be gained simply by focusing mostly on his life and career. What made Kelly unusual for actors of that era is that he did not actually arrive in Hollywood until he was nearly 30 years old, so his early life and work before film had a crucial influence on his star image. Furthermore, given that he came to prominence after Astaire, Kelly’s career offers a valuable lens through which to chart the evolution of the musical genre, as well as a look at the prevailing standards of masculinity within Hollywood at the time. American The Life of Gene Kelly examines the life and career of one of Hollywood’s most iconic dancers, tracing his rise to stardom and the forces within Hollywood and American popular culture that would ultimately lead to the end of his career. Along with pictures of important people, places, and events, you will learn about Kelly like never before, in no time at all.

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 midcareer 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 The Life of Frank Sinatra looks at the life, career, and legacy of Ol' Blue Eyes.

\Includes pictures.\Includes quotes about Fonda and Fonda's own quotes about his life and career.\Includes a bibliography for further reading.\Includes a table of contents. “I must have had faith that day. When I went out, I was Henry Fonda again. An unemployed actor but a man.” – Henry FondaA 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. Among all of Hollywood’s iconic leading men, arguably none proved as versatile at acting as Henry Fonda, whose career spanned six decades and earned him Academy Awards for roles in various genres. After breaking into Hollywood in 1935, Fonda quickly rose the ranks, earning an Academy Award nomination in the classic Twelve Angry Men (1940), but Fonda had the kind of staying power that most actors could only dream of. In fact, Fonda had already received an honorary lifetime achievement award from the Academy (in 1980) before winning the Oscar for Best Actor for his role in On Golden Pond (1981), an award he earned when he was already well into his 70s and only about a year away from his death. Fonda would also earn Emmy nominations for his work on two different shows and even a Grammy for a spoken word album in 1977. And as if all that wasn’t enough, he was also a critically acclaimed stage performer, winning a Tony for Mister Roberts in 1948. A lot of Fonda’s success could be attributed to the fact that he could convincingly play the all-American man that everybody in the nation adored and/or wanted to be, to the extent that one magazine called him “the man we wished we lived next door to.” At the same time, Fonda could portray characters like Tom Joad, who maintain their status as heroes even while breaking rules on-screen. His personal life also seemed to mirror his acting versatility; while his World War II service helped cement his all-American persona, his family life was also extremely troubled, even after he became recognized as the patriarch of a family full of famous actors, including Jane and Bridget Fonda. When Henry played a distant father on-screen in On Golden Pond alongside his daughter Jane, the autobiographical elements of the film were apparent to those who knew him.One of the remarkable aspects of Henry Fonda’s career is that he was able to play vastly different roles despite not changing his style of acting. As Henry’s distant personality would suggest, he hailed from an old-school breed of actors who didn’t express emotions outwardly, and even as his progeny would become associated with Method Acting, Henry remained in the same mold as actors like Cary Grant and Jimmy Stewart. Of course, the seemingly effortless nature of Henry’s acting only made him more endearing to contemporary audiences, even as his acting style would eventually go out of style.American The Life of Henry Fonda examines the life and career of one of the Golden Era of Hollywood’s biggest stars. Along with pictures of important people, places, and events, you will learn about Henry Fonda like never before, in no time at all.

\Includes pictures.\Includes Harlow's quotes about her own life and career.\Includes a bibliography for further reading.\Includes a table of contents."I wasn’t born an actress. Events just made me one.” – Jean HarlowA 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 the American Film Institute ranked its top 50 screen legends of the 20th century, many of the people named had careers spanning several decades, but one of them managed the feat despite living less than three decades. Ranked as the 22nd greatest actress of the 20th century, Jean Harlow was on the screen for less than 10 years, but in that time the “Blonde Bombshell” became the most popular actress of the 1930s, eclipsing superstars like Joan Crawford and Norma Shearer along the way. In fact, the platinum blonde accomplished that feat as a leading lady for just 5 years before her premature death of renal failure at just 26 years old. Although Harlow is remembered today more for her tragic fate than her career, she was influential well beyond the 1930s. Despite being so young, she managed to craft a persona as a seductive femme fatale that would critically shape how subsequent actresses approached similar roles, and of course, her platinum blonde hair served as a template for future blonde bombshells like Marilyn Monroe, who actually watched Harlow’s movies and studied her performances to model her own early career off the dead legend. American The Life of Jean Harlow examines the short but influential life and career of one of America’s first iconic blonde bombshells. Along with pictures of important people, places, and events, you will learn about Jean Harlow like never before, in no time at all.

\Includes pictures.\Includes Crosby's quotes about his life and career.\Includes a bibliography for further reading.\Includes a table of contents.“I think popular music in this country is one of the few things in the twentieth century that have made giant strides in reverse.” – Bing CrosbyA 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 1948, American polls rated Bing Crosby “the most admired man alive”, and it’s no surprise given how popular he was across every major form of entertainment during the decade. With a string of major hits, Crosby was the most popular singer in the country during that era, with classic songs like “White Christmas” helping pave the way for other singers as varied as Bob Hope, Dean Martin, and Frank Sinatra. In fact, young Sinatra modeled his clothing and style after Crosby, who was his idol growing up. And as good as he was at singing, Crosby’s work with radio technology helped pave the way for multitracking songs and making it possible to broadcast the same radio programs across the country without cutting another live version. All told, Crosby sold an estimated 500 million records in the 20th century.In addition to being one of America’s most beloved singers and an accomplished radio presence, Crosby not only made popular movies but acted well enough to be critically acclaimed. His Road To… movie series with Bob Hope produced some of the best-selling movies of the 1940s, 1950s, and 1960s, and he won an Oscar for Best Actor in Going My Way (1944) by playing Father Chuck O’Malley. When he was nominated for the same role in the 1945 sequel The Bells of St. Mary’s, he became one of just 4 people nominated for two Oscars for playing the same role. American The Life of Bing Crosby examines the life and career of one of America’s greatest and most versatile entertainers. Along with pictures of important people, places, and events, you will learn about Kelly like never before, in no time at all.