A warmly and beautifully written book, with plenty of references to and quotations from, the legendary duo's musicals, especially their music. A must-read for fans.

BROADWAY DIRECT THEATER BOOK ROUNDUP INCLUDES PAPERBACK EDITION OF SOMETHING WONDERFUL: Like the Gershwin bio above, Todd Purdum’s look at the theatrical revolution led by Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein remains happily focused on their groundbreaking shows. Their working relationship and private travails are appropriate background to the work they created, rather than the other way around. One of the best-selling theater books in recent years, it’s out now in paperback.

By Michael Giltz

"A revelatory portrait of the creative partnership that transformed musical theater and provided the soundtrack to the American Century.

They stand at the apex of the great age of songwriting, the creators of the classic Broadway musicals Oklahoma!, Carousel, South Pacific, The King and I, and The Sound of Music, whose songs have never lost their popularity or emotional power. Even before they joined forces, Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein II had written dozens of Broadway shows, but together they pioneered a new art form: the serious musical play. Their songs and dance numbers served to advance the drama and reveal character, a sharp break from the past and the template on which all future musicals would be built.

Though different in personality and often emotionally distant from each other, Rodgers and Hammerstein presented an unbroken front to the world and forged much more than a songwriting team; their partnership was also one of the most profitable and powerful entertainment businesses of their era. They were cultural powerhouses whose work came to define postwar America on stage, screen, television, and radio. But they also had their failures and flops, and more than once they feared they had lost their touch.

Todd S. Purdum’s portrait of these two men, their creative process, and their groundbreaking innovations will captivate lovers of musical theater, lovers of the classic American songbook, and young lovers wherever they are. He shows that what Rodgers and Hammerstein wrought was truly something wonderful."

And this book is for my brother!

Delightful book about this iconic songwriting team. Although very authoritative, it was very readable -- I raced through it.

The book had great insight into the pairs' lives, business deals, and plays. It also had a very fair evaluation of the lasting value of their work, something that isn't commonly found these days in spite of their continued popularity.

Such an appropriate title, SOMETHING WONDERFUL is indeed all that. Purdum's tour of the American musical theater through the eyes, ears and lips of its' greatest composers was simply a joy to read. I have been singing the songs and his praises all weekend. I would assume cats are tone deaf since mine actually seemed to enjoy the musical rapture that I shared.

This is not just a biography of "then they did and then..." rather this is a delightful tale of the masters of music and the people around them. The style is so fluid that it is a marvelous read. I loved the little anecdotes and the story of their various relationships with others in the musical theater.

Yes, I am an a great fan of the American Songbook so this book was personally pleasing to me, but I certainly highly recommend it for its' readability and the shared love of the music of these geniuses.