Sondheim: Lyrics (Everyman’s Library Pocket Poets Series)

I have discovered what I have been missing by not seeing Stephen Sondheim musicals. What I missed was the context of the story which is advanced so brilliantly by the libretto composed by Sondheim. By having this lovely book of Sondheim lyrics, one can appreciate the extraordinary talent that Sondheim has brought to the modern musical. Many of the musicals which I grew up with featured a collection of sing-able songs which were somewhat connected by story. With his lyrics, Sondheim tells the story and advances it seamlessly. It is quite an art and thanks to this beautiful book, the songs can be appreciated down to the lines that are sometimes thrown away in the singing of them. It is no coincidence that Sondheim began his career writing television scripts; it is clear that storytelling is a predominant part of his art. For forty-nine years, Sondheim has created a remarkable range of stories. From West Side Story to Bounce, Sondheim songs have enriched the landscape of Broadway and beyond.