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The Blues: A Very Short IntroductionPraised as "suave, soulful, ebullient" (Tom Waits) and "a meticulous researcher, a graceful writer, and a committed contrarian" (New York Times Book Review), Elijah Wald is one of the leading popular music critics of his generation. In The Blues, Wald surveys a genre at the heart of American culture. It is not an easy thing to pin down. As Howlin' Wolf once described it, "When you ain't got no money and can't pay your house rent and can't buy you no
Praised as "suave, soulful, ebullient" (Tom Waits) and "a meticulous researcher, a graceful writer, and a committed contrarian" (New York Times Book Review), Elijah Wald is one of the leading popular music critics of his generation. In The Blues, Wald surveys a genre at the heart of American culture.It is not an easy thing to pin down. As Howlin' Wolf once described it, "When you ain't got no money and can't pay your house rent and can't buy you no food, you've damn sure got the blues." It has been defined by lyrical structure, or as a progression of chords, or as a set of practices reflecting West African "tonal and rhythmic approaches," using a five-note "blues scale." Wald sees blues less as a style than as a broad musical tradition within a constantly evolving pop culture. He traces its roots in work and praise songs, and shows how it was transformed by such professional performers as W. C. Handy, who first popularized the blues a century ago. He follows its evolution from Ma Rainey and Bessie Smith through Bob Dylan and Jimi Hendrix; identifies the impact of rural field recordings of Blind Lemon Jefferson, Charley Patton and others; explores the role of blues in the development of both country music and jazz; and looks at the popular rhythm and blues trends of the 1940s and 1950s, from the uptown West Coast style of T-Bone Walker to the "down home" Chicago sound of Muddy Waters. Wald brings the story up to the present, touching on the effects of blues on American poetry, and its connection to modern styles such as rap.
As with all of Oxford's Very Short Introductions, The Blues tells you--with insight, clarity, and wit--everything you need to know to understand this quintessentially American musical genre.
Binding Type: Paperback
Publisher: Oxford University Press, USA
Published: 08/05/2010
ISBN: 9780195398939
Pages: 140
Weight: 0.28lbs
Size: 6.75h x 4.40w x 0.40d
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4.1 ★★★★★
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★★★★★ 5
My nine year old daughter loved it, now her friends are borrowing it.
Format: Paperback
My nine year old daughter loved it. She read it the day she got it, and then re-read the first two volumes. As a retired Language Arts teacher, books like this warm my heart. Excellent engaging story line.
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Reviewed in the United States on January 18, 2026
★★★★★ 5
Great condition, beautiful artwork, great for a broad range of reading levels
Format: Paperback
My sisters are loving this series. We pre-ordered the 3rd graphic novel and they’re already asking if there will be a 4th!
My sisters are both in 4th grade but sit at very different reading levels. “A” has a difficult time with reading comprehension and focus, so graphic novels have been a wonderful way to introduce her into the magical world of books. I firmly believe that graphic novels have helped her gain confidence and strengthen her reading skills… she now regularly reads chapter books!
Sister “B” is a very strong reader; she loves both chapter books and graphic novels. Sorceline and Wings of Fire are her absolute favorites right now. This is a great option for when she still wants to be engrossed in a story but focus some more on imagery, giving her brain a break from the heavier stuff.
We can’t wait to see if more books will be released in this series.
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Reviewed in the United States on October 23, 2025
★★★★★ 5
Graphic novel for 11 year old
Format: Paperback
Great book for an 11 year old.
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Reviewed in the United States on January 31, 2026
★★★★★ 5
Great read!
Format: Paperback
My daughter, 11, really enjoyed this series and was excited to read this one as she’s been waiting!
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Reviewed in the United States on January 20, 2026
★★★★★ 5
Great series
Format: Paperback
My 12 year old daughter LOVES this series. I ordered them for her as a Yule gift on a whim and am so glad I did.
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Reviewed in the United States on January 12, 2026
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