by Pete Hamill
First published 2003
Pete Hamill draws on decades of friendship to explore Frank Sinatra's transformation from Francis Albert Sinatra into America's voice of urban isolation. The journalist and novelist argues that three forces shaped the singer: Prohibition's lawlessness, the Depression's hardship, and World War II's upheaval. Hamill contends that Sinatra became more than an entertainer. He gave voice to the loneliness of city life and offered millions a way to express their own experiences through his music. The author examines how Sinatra's songs created a sense of belonging for an entire generation, providing them with cultural identity and dignity. Hamill writes as both admiring friend and careful observer, revealing the man behind the legend while analyzing his lasting impact on American culture. This tribute captures how one performer's art became the soundtrack for countless personal stories.
Genres: biography, 20th-century, american, music
Vibes: emotional, intimate, thought-provoking
Tropes: biography, cultural-identity, friendship
Setting: America
Period: Great Depression, Prohibition, World War II
192 pages · Paperback · Little, Brown Paperbacks