TOW #13: Frank Sinatra Has a Cold

In the essay, Frank Sinatra Has a Cold, Gay Talese profiles and describes one of the biggest icons of all time, Frank Sinatra. Talese, an reknown american author, helped to define literary journalism, which is undoubtedly shown in this particular piece. He wrote for both the New York Times and Esquire Magazine, two of the most popular journals in America, so he appears to be writing to the common people, who want a glimpse into what Sinatra is really like. In order to paint the true picture of the established singer/actor, he uses vivid imagery and anaphora to achieve his purpose. His use of imagery and detailed descriptions give the reader a holistic idea of Sinatra's world. Talese writes, " He had been silent during much of the evening, except now in this private club in Beverly Hills he seemed even more distant, staring out through the smoke and semidarkness into a large room beyond the bar where dozens of large couples sat huddled around small tables or twisted in the center of the floor to the clamorous clang of folk-rock music blaring from the stereo." This extremely detailed description is just one example of how Talese incorporates imagery in order to illustrate the typical scene of the singer. He also uses anaphora to add emphasis on important subjects. While describing how Sinatra is viewed by people, he says, "Or better still, he is what in traditional Sicily have long been called uomini rispettati -- men of respect: men who are both majestic and humble, men who are loved by all and are very generous by nature, men whose hands are kissed as they walk from village to village, men who would personally go out of their way to redress a wrong." He uses similar forms for multiple phrases to provide an in-depth example of how others view Frank. Overall, I believe that Talese wrote a truly excellent piece and helped me see the iconic singer in a very different way. Frank Sinatra Has a Cold has to be one of the best nonfiction pieces I have ever read, and it was thanks to Talese's extreme skill and detailed descriptions that gave me a glimpse into the life of one of my favorite singers.