Books published by Hachette Books

"W. C. Handy's blues--"Memphis Blues," "Beale Street Blues," "St. Louis Blues"--changed America's music forever. In Father of the Blues, Handy presents his own story: a vivid picture of American life now"

An analysis of the process of composition, learning and performance of the Southern folk blues of black America. This musical form has not previously been examined in such a scrupulous fashion. This book was the winner of the University of Chicago Folklore Prize.

"Intended for the aspiring artist as well as the enthusiastic amateur, this invaluable guide to piano practice and performance covers every major aspect of pianistic technique. Drawing from more than f"

An award-winning, groundbreaking, and controversial reappraisal of the most written-about battle in American history.

A German survivor of the Allied air campaign in World War II provides a unique and thought-provoking perspective on strategic, wide-area bombing

Revealing interviews--copiously illustrated--with 17 of the century's most influential artists, including Alexander Calder, Marcel Duchamp, Edward Hopper, and Georgia O'Keeffe.

"Begun in ignorance of the military reality, the War of 1812 was fought catch-as-catch-can with raw troops, incompetent officers, and appallingly inadequate logistics. The odds against the American fig"

"Since the Renaissance, Julius Caesar has been idolized as a superman. Classical sources, however, present a far less exalted being. As General Fuller writes, Caesar was "an unscrupulous demagogue whos"

The emergence of Jack Teagarden as an important jazz stylist was a significant feature of the '20s jazz scene. He brought a maturity to the sound of the trombone and until late in his life played with

What really hurts America's children and what we can do about it.

Numerous illustrations, many from sources now lost, back up a detailed discussion of world-wide developments in armor from the earliest times, and weapons from the Stone Age to early firearms and cannon.

This work illuminates the emotional and psychological issues in raising young children.

From one of the nation's most acclaimed child psychiatrists, a warm and experienced guide for families on how to prepare children for life in an uncertain world

For sufferers of carpal tunnel and other repetitive-strain injuries, an authoritative and practical guide to self-healing alternatives

"When Joe Louis (1914--1981) knocked out the German boxer Max Schmeling in 1938 in two minutes and four seconds, the entire nation--black and white--celebrated the "fight of the century" as a victory of t"

First time in paperback: The professional--and very personal--memoir of the legendary animator of Tom and Jerry, Yogi Bear, the Flintstones, and other cartoon classics.

"Always elusive, constantly moving, incessantly changing, John Coltrane stood astride the jazz world of the late '50s and '60s. He was a giant of the saxophone and a major composer. His music influence"

"Few figures from the American Civil War have generated more controversy than Confederate general James Longstreet. As the senior officer present at Pickett's Charge, he has been blamed by many, partic"

A new edition to commemorate the legendary composer's 100th birthday

"The personality of Vincent van Gogh (1853--1890)--a 19th-century combination of dropout, rebel, and genius--and the source of his enormous achievement continue to fascinate people as deeply as his vivid,"

This fascinating collection of intimate letters from and to Jefferson Davis (1808--1889) illuminates the character and personality of the President of the Confederacy. These letters (the majority appea

Charlie Barnet (1913-1991) is best known as the popular bandleader whose hits included "Cherokee", "Pompton Turnpike", and "Skyliner". In this book, he writes of his whiskey and marijuana habits, of his whorehouse visits and his half-dozen marriages.

"From the field cries and work chants of Southern Negroes emerged a rich and vital music called the country blues, an intensely personal expression of the pains and pleasures of black life. This music-"

"Mark Twain is best known as one of this country's finest humorists and novelists. As this collection confirms, he was one of our finest essayists as well. Gathered here in a single volume, these piece"

"Innovative film and theater director, radio producer, actor, writer, painter, narrator, and magician, Orson Welles (1915--1985) was the last true Renaissance man of the twentieth century. From such gre"

A handy, everyman's guide to the unique and specialized combat skills that characterize today's U.S. armed forces

"In a companion to his collections Riding on a Blue Note and Faces in the Crowd, Gary Giddins has assembled a mosaic of pieces that provide an essential guide to the jazz world. Moving with ease from s"

"Frederick Law Olmsted (1822--1903) designed New York City's Central Park, Brooklyn's Prospect Park, Chicago's South Park and Jackson Park, Montreal's Mount Royal Park, the park systems of Boston and Bu"