Wonder of Wonders: A Cultural History of Fiddler on the Roof

If you haven’t read or watched Fiddler on the Roof, you are truly missing out on a beloved classic of Jewish historical significance.This book provides a story, a history of a culture and the foundation of where and by whom the book was written and the family, friends, and world lived within. I admit arrogance about never having questioned the back story or the history of the writer, Sholem-aleichem, as I always assumed it a piece of fiction.

I was taken through a Jewish-Russian historical journey of one mans life, the loss of his daughters, and the importance of the Yiddish language. Author Alisa Solomon provides exhaustive research detailing everything about the Jewish culture and how it manifested itself into a theatrical production. You can tell this was a labor of love for her. It reads more like a scholarly journal and might feel a bit dry for some readers. The chapters can feel weighty; however, the time invested in reading this book in its entirety was both satisfying and rewarding and a must read for anybody looking for something heartfelt and historical. A perfect addition for any bookshelf!