FIDDLER ON THE ROOF Based on SHOLEM ALEICHEM’S STORIES Book by JOSEPH STEIN

ISBN: 9780553418972

About the book: 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.

Review: FIDDLER ON THE ROOF is an easy read book written in the form of a play. Set in Russia in the year 1905, the plot centers around a loving husband and father, Tevye, who is steeped in Jewish tradition and struggles through the unorthodox ways in which his daughters fall in love, become engaged, and marry certain young men of the village.

As his character develops and begins to accept a more modern approach to romance, his love for his wife and children deepens; and, although at the end of the play he must move from his village and begin a new way of life, he still values the traditions of his ancestry and holds on to his faith in God who has orchestrated all circumstances.

FIDDLER ON THE ROOF has had a lengthy and quite successful run on the Broadway stage and is, no doubt, one of the most beloved musicals of the twentieth century. This copy of the play will be a good addition to the Alamance Christian School library.

Author information: Joseph Stein (1912-2010) was an playwright best known for such musicals as Fiddler on the Roof and Zorba. Born to Jewish immigrants, Stein grew up in the Bronx. He began his career as a psychiatric social worker, while writing comedy on the side. A chance encounter with Zero Mostel led him to writing for radio personalities. He was honored with the Oscar Hammerstein Award for Lifetime Achievement in Musical Theater, and in 2008 was inducted into the Theater Hall of Fame.

DISCLOSURE: A complimentary copy of Fiddler on the Roof was provided by the Blogging For Books Review Program in exchange for our review. No compensation was received for this review. Opinions expressed are those of the reviewer.