Enough biographies of Stephen Sondheim have been published over the past three decades, you’d think there wasn’t room left on your shelf for another. Still writing and performing at 80, Sondheim has just published a colossal book, Finishing the Hat, a collection of lyrics and librettos culled from his musicals from 1954-1981. Terry Gross of NPR’s Fresh Air interviewed the lyrical kingpin about his new book in what will soon be the best 46 min 17 sec of your day.
Seriously, Stephen Sondheim can do no wrong with this book. He walks readers through the detail and thought that goes into writing the perfect song. He even slams some of his mentor Oscar Hammerstein’s lyrics for being too flowery (he dishes out plenty of criticism of his own works to balance it out though).
The title of the book is derived from the musical Sunday in the Park with George, his most autobiographical show to date. The song “Finishing the Hat” reveals the artist’s genius and diligence–he sacrifices everything to make art. I wonder whether Sondheim’s personal life reflected his characters’.
I would buy this book if I had an extra $40 lying around, but I promise you I will be making several long visits to Politics & Prose bookstore within the next few weeks.
