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Description of  Oscar Hammerstein II and the Invention of the Musical

030022379X pdf A new look at artist Oscar Hammerstein II as a pivotal and underestimated force in the creation of modern American culture A charming . . . passion animates [Winers] Oscar Hammerstein II and the Invention of the Musical.Brad Leithauser, New York Times Book Review You know his workShow Boat, Oklahoma!, Carousel, The King and I. But you dont really know Oscar Hammerstein II, the man who, more than anyone else, invented the American musical. Among the most commercially successful artists of his time, he was a fighter for social justice who constantly prodded his audiences to be better than they were. Diving deep into Hammersteins life, examining his papers and his lyrics, critic Laurie Winer shows how he orchestrated a collective reimagining of America, urging it forward with a subtly progressive vision of the relationship between country and city, rich and poor, America and the rest of the world. His rejection of bitterness, his openness to strangers, and his optimistic humor shaped not only the musical but the American dream itself. His vision can continue to be a touchstone to this day. Read more