The Frank Sinatra Reader
Edited by STEVEN PETKOV and LEONARD MUSTAZZA

Oxford University Press 1997 $16.95 paper 336 pp.; 28 halftones ISBN: 0-19-511389-6 Available from: http://www.oup-usa.org

"A winning collection of articles."-The Philadelphia Inquirer

"Not just a capsulized and literate history of Frankie, Ol' Blue Eyes, the Chairman of the Board, the book also is a compendium of fascinating facts."-The Chicago Tribune

"An exemplary collection of essays, articles, and book excerpts....Most of the best pieces written about Mr. Sinatra since 1944 are included in this wide-ranging anthology, some famous...and some familiar only to aficionados..., and all very much worth reading."-Terry Teachout, The New York Times Book Review

From the time he made hordes of hysterical fans swoon at the Paramount in 1942 up until the present day, Frank Sinatra has never been out of the public spotlight. With the undying loyalty of millions of fans around the world, Sinatra has become an American hero whose songs are now among the undisputed classics of American popular music.

In The Frank Sinatra Reader, Leonard Mustazza and Steven Petkov have brought together for the first time a singular selection of writings about the famous singer that focuses on his music and his legendary voice. A unique anthology of reviews, photographs, and memoirs, many of them back in print for the first time in decades, this collection tells the story of Sinatra's extraordinary musical career from its inception to the present. Included among the prominent writers, musicians, and journalists are Henry Pleasants, Arnold Shaw, Stephen Holden, Gay Talese, Whitney Balliet, Gene Lees, Bill Boggs, Will Friedwald, William Kennedy, Pete Hamill, Jonathan Schwartz, and Rosalind Russell. The editors provide introductions to each section, a selected discography, a complete filmography as well as a biographical chronology of the singer's life and a selected bibliography.

In The Frank Sinatra Reader, Mustazza and Petkov have created an invaluable collection that both illuminates and reflects Sinatra's incredible impact on the American cultural landscape. It is a must read for all Sinatra fans and for anyone interested in popular music and culture.

About the Editors:

Leonard Mustazza is Distinguished Professor of English and American Studies. He is the author of 8 books, including works about Frank Sinatra and Kurt Vonnegut. Steven Petkov teaches Political Science and American Studies. Both are at Penn State University's Abington College.