history and criticism

Traces the life of the international salsa singing star from his early life in Panama through his career as a musician and actor and his unsuccessful run for the presidency of his home country.

Examines the life of George Orwell, the English author of "Animal Farm" and "1984," and discusses the political and social criticism disclosed in his work.

Discusses the life, career, and influence of the popular horror writer Stephen King.

Discusses the role of drumming in jazz and surveys some of the greatest jazz drummers in history, from Warren "Baby" Dodds and Arthur "Zutty" Singleton to Tony Williams and Elvin Jones.

Describes the art of rapping and the cultural phenomenon of hip hop, tracing its evolution from African and Caribbean traditions.

A collection of critical articles that analyze the important literary works of the American romanticism era.

Discusses theater in sixteenth-century England, describing playwrights, plays, the audience, and Queen Elizabeth's sponsorship.

A collection of critical essays on Williams and his works arranged in chronological order of publication.

Includes poems by such authors as Paul Laurence Dunbar, Langston Hughes, Countee Cullen, Gwendolyn Brooks, and Amiri Baraka, with commentary and a discussion of the development of African American arts known as the Harlem Renaissance.

Discusses the representative authors, their works, and their collective influence on American fiction.