Review: Fiddler on the Roof

Title: Fiddler on the Roof
Based on Sholem Aleichem's Stories
Book By: Joseph Stein
Music By: Jerry Bock
Lyrics By: Sheldon Harnick
Publication Date: September 16, 2014
Publisher: Crown

Released to coincide with the fiftieth anniversary of the Broadway premiere, the full text and lyrics from the original production of one of the most beloved musicals of the 20th century.

Fiddler on the Roof is well established as one of the great works of American musical theater. Adapted from the tales of Yiddish writer Sholom Alecheim and set in Tsarist Russia in 1905, it has proven an indelible tale of family, tradition, wit, and sorrow—all filtered through the ordeals of Tevye, a Jewish Everyman. Tevye, who lives in the fictional village Anatevka, is a hard-working milkman who clings to his faith and traditions, while dreaming of riches he'll never see. He believes he'll need a matchmaker to marry off his older daughters—but they soon force their more modern ideas about romance upon him. His celebrated journey to maintain his family and his faith amidst a rapidly changing world make for a timelessly profound read; the very definition of a classic.

This edition also preempts the next Broadway revival, scheduled for 2015.

My Review:

This edition of Fiddler on the Roof is an absolutely beautiful bind up of the beloved musical that has touched many audiences over the years. My first experience with this musical was during an episode of Gilmore Girls, and I've been wanting to learn more about it since then.

First of all, I love the new cover. The black silhouette of the fiddler playing on the roof of a small house is absolutely stunning against the solid yellow cover. It would make for a great display in libraries and small book stores.

I was pleasantly surprised to see that the lyrics are included right in the text. I haven't seen a musical script since I was in a musical in ninth grade, and I've never seen one printed as a book, so I was really expecting just to see a note that said what song they were on in that part of the musical.

I also love that this edition is a hardcover. If I hadn't requested this from Blogging for Books, I probably would have purchased it for my library just for that reason.

I'll definitely be telling my theatre friends about this book so they can add it to their collections.

As per FTC guidelines, I must state that I received a free copy of Fiddler on the Roof from Blogging for Books in exchange for an honest review.