Saturday, September 27, 2014

Fiddler on the Roof - Crown Publishers

The new release of Fiddler on the Roof, by Crown publishers, is scheduled to coincide with the anniversary of its Broadway Premiere.  This 124 page book, contains the full screen play of the well known movie based on Sholem Aleichem's stories, and created by Stein, Bock and Harnick,  I had expected a larger sized glossy gift type of book with photographs along side the movie's screen play. This book is a jacketed hardcover with the complete screen play in plain text.  This book is marketed as a souvenir, but it looks more like a regular book or manuscript. 

The simple, understated movie themed graphic of the infamous fiddler, and the simple matte finish book cover gives this older movie, a modern appeal.  Yet I feel this book is too minimalist to justify the $18.00 retail price.  I'd expect more- at least some full color photos- at that price.  To pay that inflated price seems more as if one is making a donation, rather than purchasing a book.  I don't think fans will want to pay that much for this book- unless it was adorned with an autograph. 

As far as the content, the book contains the full text of Fiddler on the Roof.  Fans of the movie can read and re-read the manuscript and relive the movie or theater production- all in their heads, and relying on their memories- because there are no photos to accompany the words whatsoever. 

This book may also be useful for a group of drama students who wanted to re enact their own production of Fiddler on the Roof.  This is a sturdy, well made, hard cover volume that will stand up to years of use and reading.  But other than the quality binding, and clean - cut, modern cover, I really cannot suggest this book for anyone unless they absolutely could not live without the manuscript of Fiddler on the Roof.  Perhaps there is a niche market for this book .As a blogger I received a copy of this book published by Crown Publishers. 

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