Author: Dr. Swarn Lata
Publisher: iUniverse
ISBN: 1475947070
Category : Music
Languages : en
Pages : 161
Book Description
Since the thirteenth century, the sitara stringed, plucked instrument of Indiahas transformed into an instrument beloved by millions in its country of origin as well as all over the world. The Journey of the Sitar in Indian Classical Music details the origin, history, and playing styles of this unique stringed instrument. Dr. Swarn Lata relies on more than thirty-five years of experience teaching sitar to students from diverse cultures and communities as well as extensive research from libraries, museums, temples, and musicologists to compile a comprehensive guidebook filled with fascinating facts about the sitar. In a carefully organized format, Lata offers an in-depth examination of the meaning of musical instruments, the styles of different gharanas, and the place of the sitar in Indian classical music. Music is an extraordinary medium of expression that has the capability to bring the world together. This step-by-step guidebook shares a one-of-akind study of a unique instrument that produces a beautiful sound while providing an unforgettable spiritual experience to all who listen.
The Journey of the Sitar in Indian Classical Music
Author: Dr. Swarn Lata
Publisher: iUniverse
ISBN: 1475947070
Category : Music
Languages : en
Pages : 161
Book Description
Since the thirteenth century, the sitara stringed, plucked instrument of Indiahas transformed into an instrument beloved by millions in its country of origin as well as all over the world. The Journey of the Sitar in Indian Classical Music details the origin, history, and playing styles of this unique stringed instrument. Dr. Swarn Lata relies on more than thirty-five years of experience teaching sitar to students from diverse cultures and communities as well as extensive research from libraries, museums, temples, and musicologists to compile a comprehensive guidebook filled with fascinating facts about the sitar. In a carefully organized format, Lata offers an in-depth examination of the meaning of musical instruments, the styles of different gharanas, and the place of the sitar in Indian classical music. Music is an extraordinary medium of expression that has the capability to bring the world together. This step-by-step guidebook shares a one-of-akind study of a unique instrument that produces a beautiful sound while providing an unforgettable spiritual experience to all who listen.
Publisher: iUniverse
ISBN: 1475947070
Category : Music
Languages : en
Pages : 161
Book Description
Since the thirteenth century, the sitara stringed, plucked instrument of Indiahas transformed into an instrument beloved by millions in its country of origin as well as all over the world. The Journey of the Sitar in Indian Classical Music details the origin, history, and playing styles of this unique stringed instrument. Dr. Swarn Lata relies on more than thirty-five years of experience teaching sitar to students from diverse cultures and communities as well as extensive research from libraries, museums, temples, and musicologists to compile a comprehensive guidebook filled with fascinating facts about the sitar. In a carefully organized format, Lata offers an in-depth examination of the meaning of musical instruments, the styles of different gharanas, and the place of the sitar in Indian classical music. Music is an extraordinary medium of expression that has the capability to bring the world together. This step-by-step guidebook shares a one-of-akind study of a unique instrument that produces a beautiful sound while providing an unforgettable spiritual experience to all who listen.
Indian Sun
Author: Oliver Craske
Publisher: Hachette Books
ISBN: 0306874873
Category : Biography & Autobiography
Languages : en
Pages : 682
Book Description
One of Library Journal's "Best Arts Books of 2020" The definitive biography of Ravi Shankar, one of the most influential musicians and composers of the twentieth century, told with the cooperation of his estate, family, and friends For over eight decades, Ravi Shankar was India's greatest cultural ambassador. He was a groundbreaking performer and composer of Indian classical music, who brought the music and rich culture of India to the world's leading concert halls and festivals, charting the map for those who followed in his footsteps. Renowned for playing Monterey Pop, Woodstock, and the Concert for Bangladesh-and for teaching George Harrison of The Beatles how to play the sitar-Shankar reshaped the musical landscape of the 1960s across pop, jazz, and classical music, and composed unforgettable scores for movies like Pather Panchali and Gandhi. In Indian Sun: The Life and Music of Ravi Shankar, writer Oliver Craske presents readers with the first full portrait of this legendary figure, revealing the personal and professional story of a musician who influenced-and continues to influence-countless artists. Craske paints a vivid picture of a captivating, restless workaholic-from his lonely and traumatic childhood in Varanasi to his youthful stardom in his brother's dance troupe, from his intensive study of the sitar to his revival of India's national music scene. Shankar's musical influence spread across both genres and generations, and he developed close friendships with John Coltrane, Philip Glass, Yehudi Menuhin, George Harrison, and Benjamin Britten, among many others. For ninety-two years, Shankar lived an endlessly colorful and creative life, a life defined by musical, emotional, and spiritual quests-and his legacy lives on. Benefiting from unprecedented access to Shankar's archives, and drawing on new interviews with over 130 subjects-including his second wife and both of his daughters, Norah Jones and Anoushka Shankar- Indian Sun gives readers unparalleled insight into a man who transformed modern music as we know it today.
Publisher: Hachette Books
ISBN: 0306874873
Category : Biography & Autobiography
Languages : en
Pages : 682
Book Description
One of Library Journal's "Best Arts Books of 2020" The definitive biography of Ravi Shankar, one of the most influential musicians and composers of the twentieth century, told with the cooperation of his estate, family, and friends For over eight decades, Ravi Shankar was India's greatest cultural ambassador. He was a groundbreaking performer and composer of Indian classical music, who brought the music and rich culture of India to the world's leading concert halls and festivals, charting the map for those who followed in his footsteps. Renowned for playing Monterey Pop, Woodstock, and the Concert for Bangladesh-and for teaching George Harrison of The Beatles how to play the sitar-Shankar reshaped the musical landscape of the 1960s across pop, jazz, and classical music, and composed unforgettable scores for movies like Pather Panchali and Gandhi. In Indian Sun: The Life and Music of Ravi Shankar, writer Oliver Craske presents readers with the first full portrait of this legendary figure, revealing the personal and professional story of a musician who influenced-and continues to influence-countless artists. Craske paints a vivid picture of a captivating, restless workaholic-from his lonely and traumatic childhood in Varanasi to his youthful stardom in his brother's dance troupe, from his intensive study of the sitar to his revival of India's national music scene. Shankar's musical influence spread across both genres and generations, and he developed close friendships with John Coltrane, Philip Glass, Yehudi Menuhin, George Harrison, and Benjamin Britten, among many others. For ninety-two years, Shankar lived an endlessly colorful and creative life, a life defined by musical, emotional, and spiritual quests-and his legacy lives on. Benefiting from unprecedented access to Shankar's archives, and drawing on new interviews with over 130 subjects-including his second wife and both of his daughters, Norah Jones and Anoushka Shankar- Indian Sun gives readers unparalleled insight into a man who transformed modern music as we know it today.
A Guru’s Journey
Author: Sarah Morelli
Publisher: University of Illinois Press
ISBN: 0252051726
Category : Performing Arts
Languages : en
Pages : 259
Book Description
An important modern exponent of Asian dance, Pandit Chitresh Das brought kathak to the United States in 1970. The North Indian classical dance has since become an important art form within the greater Indian diaspora. Yet its adoption outside of India raises questions about what happens to artistic practices when we separate them from their broader cultural contexts. A Guru's Journey provides an ethnographic study of the dance form in the San Francisco Bay Area community formed by Das. Sarah Morelli, a kathak dancer and one of Das's former students, investigates issues in teaching, learning, and performance that developed around Das during his time in the United States. In modifying kathak's form and teaching for Western students, Das negotiates questions of Indianness and non-Indianness, gender, identity, and race. Morelli lays out these issues for readers with the goal of deepening their knowledge of kathak aesthetics, technique, and theory. She also shares the intricacies of footwork, facial expression in storytelling, and other aspects of kathak while tying them to the cultural issues that inform the dance.
Publisher: University of Illinois Press
ISBN: 0252051726
Category : Performing Arts
Languages : en
Pages : 259
Book Description
An important modern exponent of Asian dance, Pandit Chitresh Das brought kathak to the United States in 1970. The North Indian classical dance has since become an important art form within the greater Indian diaspora. Yet its adoption outside of India raises questions about what happens to artistic practices when we separate them from their broader cultural contexts. A Guru's Journey provides an ethnographic study of the dance form in the San Francisco Bay Area community formed by Das. Sarah Morelli, a kathak dancer and one of Das's former students, investigates issues in teaching, learning, and performance that developed around Das during his time in the United States. In modifying kathak's form and teaching for Western students, Das negotiates questions of Indianness and non-Indianness, gender, identity, and race. Morelli lays out these issues for readers with the goal of deepening their knowledge of kathak aesthetics, technique, and theory. She also shares the intricacies of footwork, facial expression in storytelling, and other aspects of kathak while tying them to the cultural issues that inform the dance.
Sitar Mastery
Author: Nicholas Kay
Publisher: Nicholas Khatchadourian
ISBN:
Category : Music
Languages : en
Pages : 30
Book Description
Are you fascinated by the iconic sound of the sitar and interested in learning how to play it? "Sitar Mastery: The Ultimate Guide to Playing and Performing on the Iconic Indian Musical Instrument" is the perfect book for you. This comprehensive guide takes you on a journey from the basics of sitar playing to advanced techniques, covering everything you need to know about mastering this beautiful instrument. With detailed chapters on the history of the sitar, tuning, hand and finger positioning, and music theory, this book provides a comprehensive understanding of the sitar and its place in Indian Classical Music. Additionally, it covers intermediate and advanced techniques such as playing complex compositions, improvisation, and dealing with stage fright, making it a valuable resource for both beginners and experienced players. This book also includes a section on maintaining and repairing the sitar, as well as tips for performing and showcasing your talent. The resources section offers a list of online resources, music schools, teachers, and repair services, making it a one-stop-shop for all sitar enthusiasts. Whether you are a music enthusiast or a professional musician, "Sitar Mastery" is the ultimate guide to help you achieve your musical goals and unlock the full potential of the sitar. So, grab your sitar and start your journey to becoming a sitar master with "Sitar Mastery: The Ultimate Guide to Playing and Performing on the Iconic Indian Musical Instrument."
Publisher: Nicholas Khatchadourian
ISBN:
Category : Music
Languages : en
Pages : 30
Book Description
Are you fascinated by the iconic sound of the sitar and interested in learning how to play it? "Sitar Mastery: The Ultimate Guide to Playing and Performing on the Iconic Indian Musical Instrument" is the perfect book for you. This comprehensive guide takes you on a journey from the basics of sitar playing to advanced techniques, covering everything you need to know about mastering this beautiful instrument. With detailed chapters on the history of the sitar, tuning, hand and finger positioning, and music theory, this book provides a comprehensive understanding of the sitar and its place in Indian Classical Music. Additionally, it covers intermediate and advanced techniques such as playing complex compositions, improvisation, and dealing with stage fright, making it a valuable resource for both beginners and experienced players. This book also includes a section on maintaining and repairing the sitar, as well as tips for performing and showcasing your talent. The resources section offers a list of online resources, music schools, teachers, and repair services, making it a one-stop-shop for all sitar enthusiasts. Whether you are a music enthusiast or a professional musician, "Sitar Mastery" is the ultimate guide to help you achieve your musical goals and unlock the full potential of the sitar. So, grab your sitar and start your journey to becoming a sitar master with "Sitar Mastery: The Ultimate Guide to Playing and Performing on the Iconic Indian Musical Instrument."
Finding the Raga
Author: Amit Chaudhuri
Publisher: New York Review of Books
ISBN: 168137479X
Category : Music
Languages : en
Pages : 273
Book Description
Winner of the James Tait Black Prize for Biography An autobiographical exploration of the role and meaning of music in our world by one of India's greatest living authors, himself a vocalist and performer. Amit Chaudhuri, novelist, critic, and essayist, is also a musician, trained in the Indian classical vocal tradition but equally fluent as a guitarist and singer in the American folk music style, who has recorded his experimental compositions extensively and performed around the world. A turning point in his life took place when, as a lonely teenager living in a high-rise in Bombay, far from his family’s native Calcutta, he began, contrary to all his prior inclinations, to study Indian classical music. Finding the Raga chronicles that transformation and how it has continued to affect and transform not only how Chaudhuri listens to and makes music but how he listens to and thinks about the world at large. Offering a highly personal introduction to Indian music, the book is also a meditation on the differences between Indian and Western music and art-making as well as the ways they converge in a modernism that Chaudhuri reframes not as a twentieth-century Western art movement but as a fundamental mode of aesthetic response, at once immemorial and extraterritorial. Finding the Raga combines memoir, practical and cultural criticism, and philosophical reflection with the same individuality and flair that Chaudhuri demonstrates throughout a uniquely wide-ranging, challenging, and enthralling body of work.
Publisher: New York Review of Books
ISBN: 168137479X
Category : Music
Languages : en
Pages : 273
Book Description
Winner of the James Tait Black Prize for Biography An autobiographical exploration of the role and meaning of music in our world by one of India's greatest living authors, himself a vocalist and performer. Amit Chaudhuri, novelist, critic, and essayist, is also a musician, trained in the Indian classical vocal tradition but equally fluent as a guitarist and singer in the American folk music style, who has recorded his experimental compositions extensively and performed around the world. A turning point in his life took place when, as a lonely teenager living in a high-rise in Bombay, far from his family’s native Calcutta, he began, contrary to all his prior inclinations, to study Indian classical music. Finding the Raga chronicles that transformation and how it has continued to affect and transform not only how Chaudhuri listens to and makes music but how he listens to and thinks about the world at large. Offering a highly personal introduction to Indian music, the book is also a meditation on the differences between Indian and Western music and art-making as well as the ways they converge in a modernism that Chaudhuri reframes not as a twentieth-century Western art movement but as a fundamental mode of aesthetic response, at once immemorial and extraterritorial. Finding the Raga combines memoir, practical and cultural criticism, and philosophical reflection with the same individuality and flair that Chaudhuri demonstrates throughout a uniquely wide-ranging, challenging, and enthralling body of work.
Taj Mahal Foxtrot
Author: Naresh Fernandes
Publisher: Antique Collector's Club
ISBN: 9789351941736
Category : Big band music
Languages : en
Pages : 0
Book Description
-An intimate look at a period of modern Indian history that has shaped the music of the subcontinent today -Features detailed sections on several important Indian and American jazz musicians, including Chic Chocolate, 'the Louis Armstrong of India'; and Teddy Weatherford In 1935, a violinist from Minnesota named Leon Abbey brought the first 'all negro' jazz band to Bombay, leaving behind a legacy that would last three decades. In a decade, swing found its way onto the streets of India. It influenced Hindi film music: the very soundtrack of Indian life. The optimism of jazz became an important element in the tunes that echoed the hopes of newly independent India. This book tells a story of India, especially of the city of Bombay, through the lives of a menagerie of geniuses, strivers, and eccentrics, both Indian and American, who helped jazz find a home in the sweaty subcontinent. They include the burly African-American pianist Teddy Weatherford; the Goan trumpet player Frank Fernand, whose epiphanic encounter with Mahatma Gandhi drove him to try to give jazz an Indian voice; Chic Chocolate, who was known as' the Louis Armstrong of India'; Anthony Gonsalves, who lent his name to one of the most popular Bollywood tunes ever; and many more. Taj Mahal Foxtrot, at its heart, is a history of Bombay in swing time.
Publisher: Antique Collector's Club
ISBN: 9789351941736
Category : Big band music
Languages : en
Pages : 0
Book Description
-An intimate look at a period of modern Indian history that has shaped the music of the subcontinent today -Features detailed sections on several important Indian and American jazz musicians, including Chic Chocolate, 'the Louis Armstrong of India'; and Teddy Weatherford In 1935, a violinist from Minnesota named Leon Abbey brought the first 'all negro' jazz band to Bombay, leaving behind a legacy that would last three decades. In a decade, swing found its way onto the streets of India. It influenced Hindi film music: the very soundtrack of Indian life. The optimism of jazz became an important element in the tunes that echoed the hopes of newly independent India. This book tells a story of India, especially of the city of Bombay, through the lives of a menagerie of geniuses, strivers, and eccentrics, both Indian and American, who helped jazz find a home in the sweaty subcontinent. They include the burly African-American pianist Teddy Weatherford; the Goan trumpet player Frank Fernand, whose epiphanic encounter with Mahatma Gandhi drove him to try to give jazz an Indian voice; Chic Chocolate, who was known as' the Louis Armstrong of India'; Anthony Gonsalves, who lent his name to one of the most popular Bollywood tunes ever; and many more. Taj Mahal Foxtrot, at its heart, is a history of Bombay in swing time.
101 Raga-S for the 21St Century and Beyond
Author: Haresh Bakshi
Publisher: Trafford Publishing
ISBN: 1412231353
Category : Music
Languages : en
Pages : 99
Book Description
Indian classical music is so enduring that it is exempt from oblivion. It is destined to live in all ages of this world. This book on North Indian classical music (also known as Hindustani music) tells you, simply and informally, about the most popular 101 raga-s, and 161 topics commonly mentioned in conversation, articles and books on Hindustani music. It is the best tool to learn about and enjoy this genre of music, which is a significant component of World Music. More details at www.SoundOfIndia.com An audio CD containing aroha, avaroha and pakad of each of the 101 raga-s, is available. Please visit http://www.SoundOfIndia.com and click on Products. This book is being translated into French, Hindi and Gujarati.
Publisher: Trafford Publishing
ISBN: 1412231353
Category : Music
Languages : en
Pages : 99
Book Description
Indian classical music is so enduring that it is exempt from oblivion. It is destined to live in all ages of this world. This book on North Indian classical music (also known as Hindustani music) tells you, simply and informally, about the most popular 101 raga-s, and 161 topics commonly mentioned in conversation, articles and books on Hindustani music. It is the best tool to learn about and enjoy this genre of music, which is a significant component of World Music. More details at www.SoundOfIndia.com An audio CD containing aroha, avaroha and pakad of each of the 101 raga-s, is available. Please visit http://www.SoundOfIndia.com and click on Products. This book is being translated into French, Hindi and Gujarati.
From Haldi to Honeymoon: A Journey through Indian Wedding Traditions
Author: Ranjot Singh Chahal
Publisher: Rana Books Uk
ISBN:
Category : Family & Relationships
Languages : en
Pages : 56
Book Description
Embark on a captivating journey through the kaleidoscope of Indian wedding traditions with "From Haldi to Honeymoon." This comprehensive guide offers an immersive exploration of the rich tapestry that weaves together the diverse rituals and customs embedded in the fabric of Indian matrimonial celebrations. Delve into the heart of cultural significance as you unravel the pages, beginning with the pre-wedding rituals like the vibrant Haldi ceremony and moving through the sacred vows of the wedding ceremony steeped in Vedic traditions. Traverse the labyrinth of post-wedding customs, savor the opulence of attire and jewelry, and get lost in the enchanting cadence of music, dance, and decor that characterize Indian nuptials. Discover the symphony of flavors in the extensive chapter dedicated to the culinary delights of Indian weddings, from traditional feasts to modern culinary innovations. Immerse yourself in the intricacies of wedding invitations and stationery, and gain valuable insights into managing finances and budgeting for the grand celebration. As the narrative unfolds, witness the evolution of Indian weddings through Chapter 10, exploring modern trends and innovations that are reshaping the landscape of the wedding industry. Navigate the delicate nuances of cultural sensitivities and overcome challenges with grace in Chapter 11. "From Haldi to Honeymoon" is not just a book; it's an odyssey, a visual and intellectual feast that captures the essence of Indian weddings in all their splendor. Whether you're a bride-to-be, a cultural enthusiast, or simply a lover of vibrant traditions, this book promises to be your ultimate guide, offering a panoramic view of the sacred and celebratory moments that define the journey from Haldi to Honeymoon.
Publisher: Rana Books Uk
ISBN:
Category : Family & Relationships
Languages : en
Pages : 56
Book Description
Embark on a captivating journey through the kaleidoscope of Indian wedding traditions with "From Haldi to Honeymoon." This comprehensive guide offers an immersive exploration of the rich tapestry that weaves together the diverse rituals and customs embedded in the fabric of Indian matrimonial celebrations. Delve into the heart of cultural significance as you unravel the pages, beginning with the pre-wedding rituals like the vibrant Haldi ceremony and moving through the sacred vows of the wedding ceremony steeped in Vedic traditions. Traverse the labyrinth of post-wedding customs, savor the opulence of attire and jewelry, and get lost in the enchanting cadence of music, dance, and decor that characterize Indian nuptials. Discover the symphony of flavors in the extensive chapter dedicated to the culinary delights of Indian weddings, from traditional feasts to modern culinary innovations. Immerse yourself in the intricacies of wedding invitations and stationery, and gain valuable insights into managing finances and budgeting for the grand celebration. As the narrative unfolds, witness the evolution of Indian weddings through Chapter 10, exploring modern trends and innovations that are reshaping the landscape of the wedding industry. Navigate the delicate nuances of cultural sensitivities and overcome challenges with grace in Chapter 11. "From Haldi to Honeymoon" is not just a book; it's an odyssey, a visual and intellectual feast that captures the essence of Indian weddings in all their splendor. Whether you're a bride-to-be, a cultural enthusiast, or simply a lover of vibrant traditions, this book promises to be your ultimate guide, offering a panoramic view of the sacred and celebratory moments that define the journey from Haldi to Honeymoon.
An Introduction to Hindustani Classical Music: A Beginners Guide
Author: Vijay Prakash Singha
Publisher: Roli Books Private Limited
ISBN: 8193704940
Category : Music
Languages : en
Pages : 162
Book Description
An Introduction to Hindustani Classical Music: A Guidebook for Beginners is Vijay Singha's comprehensive guide to savour and appreciate classical music. Written in a simple and easy-to-comprehend style, this book delves into the understanding of raga sangeet, semi-classical and fusion music, raga sangeet in Hindi films, as well as the future of classical music in India.
Publisher: Roli Books Private Limited
ISBN: 8193704940
Category : Music
Languages : en
Pages : 162
Book Description
An Introduction to Hindustani Classical Music: A Guidebook for Beginners is Vijay Singha's comprehensive guide to savour and appreciate classical music. Written in a simple and easy-to-comprehend style, this book delves into the understanding of raga sangeet, semi-classical and fusion music, raga sangeet in Hindi films, as well as the future of classical music in India.
Famous People Around The World. VOLUME 04B
Author: Marcelo Gameiro
Publisher: Marcelo Gameiro
ISBN:
Category : Biography & Autobiography
Languages : en
Pages : 614
Book Description
Get ready to take a thrilling journey through the lives of some of the most fascinating people in the world! "Famous People Around The World" is an engrossing read that provides an in-depth look at the lives of various famous personalities, from artists and scientists to musicians and politicians. This book covers all aspects of these people's lives, starting from their early years, upbringing, education, and pivotal experiences that shaped their lives. It explores their fascinating careers, achievements, turning points, and contributions to their respective fields. But that's not all - this book delves deeper into the personal lives of these famous individuals, including their relationships, marriages, hobbies, interests, and even any scandals or controversies they may have been involved in. Moreover, this book also examines the legacies of these influential figures and how they have impacted their industry or society as a whole. You will be amazed at the lasting contributions that these people have made and the ways they are remembered even to this day. As you read through the pages, you will discover the unique qualities and quirks that make these people stand out. You will learn about their personalities, sense of humor, and interesting habits or rituals. But that's not all! The book also includes a few exciting stories about these famous personalities that you probably have never heard before. And to test your knowledge, we have included 10 True or False questions at the end of each chapter that will keep you engaged and curious until the very end. So, whether you are a history buff or just looking for an engaging and educational read, "Famous People Around The World" is the perfect book for you. Get your copy now and embark on a journey through the fascinating lives of some of the most influential people in history!
Publisher: Marcelo Gameiro
ISBN:
Category : Biography & Autobiography
Languages : en
Pages : 614
Book Description
Get ready to take a thrilling journey through the lives of some of the most fascinating people in the world! "Famous People Around The World" is an engrossing read that provides an in-depth look at the lives of various famous personalities, from artists and scientists to musicians and politicians. This book covers all aspects of these people's lives, starting from their early years, upbringing, education, and pivotal experiences that shaped their lives. It explores their fascinating careers, achievements, turning points, and contributions to their respective fields. But that's not all - this book delves deeper into the personal lives of these famous individuals, including their relationships, marriages, hobbies, interests, and even any scandals or controversies they may have been involved in. Moreover, this book also examines the legacies of these influential figures and how they have impacted their industry or society as a whole. You will be amazed at the lasting contributions that these people have made and the ways they are remembered even to this day. As you read through the pages, you will discover the unique qualities and quirks that make these people stand out. You will learn about their personalities, sense of humor, and interesting habits or rituals. But that's not all! The book also includes a few exciting stories about these famous personalities that you probably have never heard before. And to test your knowledge, we have included 10 True or False questions at the end of each chapter that will keep you engaged and curious until the very end. So, whether you are a history buff or just looking for an engaging and educational read, "Famous People Around The World" is the perfect book for you. Get your copy now and embark on a journey through the fascinating lives of some of the most influential people in history!