A great starting point for students or casual readers looking for a introduction to the themes and discussions on Maya Angelou's autobiography, I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings.

The five volumes of Musicians and Composers of the 20th Century examine individuals from all over the world who gained significance as composers, performers, instrumentalists, vocalists, and teachers. These are the people who have shaped the history of a number of musical genres, including blues, classical, country, gospel, jazz, Latin, musical theater, opera, punk, rap, reggae, rock, and many more.

Each one of these essays has been specially written for this set. The subjects of these essays are wealthy people who earned their fortunes in a wide range of endeavors from ancient times into the twenty-first century--coverage that is essential in any liberal arts curriculum. The editor's criteria for including these individuals in this publication took into account the amount of their wealth; their historical significance; their representation from a wide range of countries and historical periods; the sources of their wealth from a vast range of endeavors; their relevance to class curricula; and their interest to high school, undergraduate, and general readers. For purposes of this publication, the term "incredibly wealthy" is defined to include men and women who were or are among the wealthiest people during the times in which they lived. Many of these individuals were members of the wealthiest families of their times; profiles of numerous members of the Vanderbilt, Rothschild, and Rockefeller families, for example, are represented here.

Salem's Great Lives from History series, 637 essays focus on historically significant personages considered "notorious." The definition of that term ranges from controversial to extremely negative. Scope of coverage includes ancient times to the present, worldwide, with an emphasis on the North American and the West but including figures as diverse as Attila the Hun, Genghis Khan, Idi Amin, Ted Bundy, and Osama Bin Laden. The set spans classic figures such as Hitler to contemporary figures such as Aileen Wuornos. Controversial figures--from Mao Zedong to Richard Nixon--are also included. Legendary figures, from Salome to Robin Hood, are also addressed. Personages covered are remembered for their infamy but also for their key historical roles.

Great Lives from History: Latinos features 518 essays from the eighteenth century to the present. The majority of the individuals included in this set have never been covered in this series before. Many individuals are household names, famous for such high-profile professions as entertainment, music, politics, and sports, while others have received less attention but made important contributions to civil rights and science or helped pave the way for others in their community in areas such as education, law, and business. For purposes of this publication, the term "Latino" includes all persons of at least partial Hispanic ancestry who were or are American citizens or who have resided or worked in the United States long enough to become identified with the Spanish-speaking Latino community.

The 20th Century is the eighth installment in the revised and expanded Great Lives series, which provides in-depth critical, biographical essays from around the world. This set's scope is broad, both geographically and in terms of areas of achievement. Major world leaders appear here, as well as the giants of religious faith who were central to the century: philosophers, educators, artists, scientists, and activists who left their imprint on political as well as spiritual institutions. The set also includes figures who have received little attention in the past, particularly women and people of color in all areas of achievement.

Both the geographic and the occupational scope of the individuals covered inGreat Lives from History: The Nineteenth Century,1801-1900 are intentionally broad, with a view to including influential individuals worldwide. Major world leaders appear here, as well as the giants of religious faith who dominated the century: monarchs, presidents, popes, philosophers, writers, social reformers, educators, and military leaders who left their imprint on political as well as spiritual institutions. The set also includes figures who have received little attention in the past, from American educator and science writer Elizabeth Cabot Agassiz to Chinese statesman and military leader Zeng Guofan. By category, the contents include figures whose achievements fall into one or more of the following areas: agriculture essays, architecture, art, astronomy, biology, business, chemistry, church government, communications, crime, diplomacy, economics, education, engineering, entertainment, exploration, geography, geology, government and politics, historiography, journalism, law, linguistics, literature, mathematics, medicine, military, music, patronage of the arts, philanthropy, philosophy, photography, physics, psychology, religion and theology, scholarship, science and technology, social reform, sociology, sports, theater, warfare and conquest, and women's rights.

Coverage in Great Lives from History: The 18th Century is broad in its variety of areas of achievement as well as geographical scope, with a worldwide focus that includes extensive coverage of non-Europeans and women. Major world leaders appear here, as well as the giants of religious faith who were central to the century: philosophers, educators, and theologians who left their imprint on political as well as spiritual institutions. What makes this resource unique is the inclusion of figures who have received little attention in the past, from Abd al-Wahhab to Peg Woffington and Yongzheng.

Great Lives from History is a multivolume series detailing the biographies of important people throughout history, worldwide. Major world leaders appear here - emperors, conquerors, kings, and queens - as do giants of religious faith who were central to the century, such as popes and theologians who left their imprint on political as well as spiritual institutions. The set also includes figures who have received little or no attention in the past - from Queen Njinga of Angola to the Ottoman scholar Kâtib Çelebî. The individuals covered are identified with one or more of the following areas: Africa, the American Colonies, Austria, Belgium, Bohemia, Canada, China, Denmark, England, France, Germany, India, Iran, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Mexico, Native America, the Netherlands, the Ottoman Empire, Peru, Poland, Portugal, Russia, Scotland, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland and Ukraine.

Great Lives from History: The Renaissance & Early Modern Era, 1454-1600 is the third installment in the expanded Great Lives series. The editor has sought to provide coverage that is broad in areas of achievement as well as geography, including individuals from Africa, Asia, Europe, and North and South America. The set includes the standard figures - kings, queens, generals, artists, and scientists - but much more: Key figures who have previously received little attention, from the queen of Hausaland Amina Sarauniya Zazzua to composer Thomas Tallis, and even such notorious figures as Irish pirate Grace O'Malley and Hungarian nobelwoman Elizabeth Báthory.