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The music of Mikhail Glinka earned him credit for launching Russian nationalism. But his most famous opera, "A Life for the Tsar," is filled with the music of Poland, not Russia. Musicologist Richard Taruskin explores national identity in music.

With almost no major reviews or marketing, the coming-of-age story Hairstyles of the Damned has sold 20,000 copies and gone into its third printing. Scott Simon talks with the novel's author, Joe Meno.

On what would have been the 65th birthday of music icon Jimi Hendrix, Charles R. Cross, author of Room Full of Mirrors: A Biography of Jimi Hendrix, cross-examines the lesser-known personality of blues legend Jimi Hendrix.

Nic Harcourt, host of KCRW's popular Morning Becomes Eclectic and author of Music Lust, talks about his book, along with some of the best music you've probably missed this past year.

Three years ago, journalist Steve Lopez met a homeless musician on skid row in Los Angeles. He soon learned that the man, Nathaniel Ayers, had once been a promising violinist, and that he had left the Juilliard School because of his struggle with mental illness. Ayers is the subject of Lopez's new book, The Soloist.

Beethoven poured his "scowling genius" into his 32 sonatas — works that helped transform music forever. Three artists discuss their attempts to interpret some of the most challenging pieces ever written for piano.

In his new book, the guitarist, singer and songwriter shares stories from life growing up in a musical household and talks about collaborating and sharing the stage with the likes of Rosemary Clooney, Frank Sinatra and Paul McCartney.

After a 25-year-long legal battle, the FBI has released the final documents relating to its surveillance of John Lennon in the 1970s. Historian Jon Wiener first requested the files in 1981 for a book on Lennon. He discusses the contents of the now-declassified files.

Natalie Moore and Natalie Hopkinson discuss their book Deconstructing Tyrone: A New Look at Black Masculinity in the Hip-Hop Generation.

The popular children's book author turns his attention to a macabre event at the orchestra, complete with music and illustrations. Daniel Handler, acting as Mr. Snicket's mouthpiece, investigates the mystery, starting with the death of the composer.