Born in the U.S.A. (Bruce Springsteen)

History's Best Selling Products of 1926

1. The Weary Blues

   Released in 1926 by Langston Hughes, Alfred A. Knopf

   The Weary Blues, published in 1926, stands as a monumental achievement not only for its author, Langston Hughes, but for the trajectory of American literature itself. Released at the zenith of the Harlem Renaissance, this collection daringly infused the spirit and sound of African American music – jazz and blues – directly into the rigid structures of traditional poetry. Its publication signaled a profound shift, validating Black vernacular and cultural forms as legitimate and powerful artistic expressions. The book's arrival was a clarion call, inviting readers to experience the joy, sorrow, and resilience of Black life through a revolutionary sonic and linguistic lens, forever altering perceptions of poetic possibility.