Beautifully written. I think if I would have seen the show prior to reading the book I would have appreciated this even more.

A must read for any Hadestown fan. I love to see the development of the show from the various iterations. Anais Mitchell is a lyrical genius.

This book is perfect for fans of the musical or the soundtrack. Anais gives you insights on all aspects of each song, like from conception to the workshop to the Broadway stage. The lyrics are poetic and imaginative, a fantastic work of art on every level. Thank you for creating such a beautiful book and show.

One of my biggest regrets is not seeing Hadestown in London when I had the opportunity in the summer of 2018. I hadn’t heard of the show at that time but it soon became one of the most, if not the most, listened to albums on my Spotify. I know the words backwards and forwards. So when I was given the opportunity to read about the lyrics and where they came from and how they evolved I jumped on the opportunity.

This book goes song by song providing the full lyrics to each song and then an explanation of how and why it changed over time. I had no idea the show dates back to a 2006 production in Vermont. The main changes happened as the show was moved to a new location; from Vermont to off-broadway to Edmonton to London to Broadway. In addition to describing the changes in the lyrics older versions of the lyrics are included in the book to provide a fuller picture.

As someone who is not overly creative I find the minds of creative-types fascinating. It was wonderful to have Anaïs explain in her own words her thought processes and why each iteration was that way that it was. In her explanation of how the lyrics changed she explains how the characters evolved and the show itself morphed into what it is today. I only wish that Broadway was open so I could go see the show in person.

Thank you to NetGalley and Plume for the digital copy in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you Netgalley for providing an advanced copy to review.

Working on a Song: The Lyrics of Hadestown is a book from Anaïs Mitchell, the writer and lyricist of the Tony award winning Hadestown. This book is all about the process she took to create the music in Hadestown, from it's beginning in Vermont to winning awards on Broadway. I got the incredible opportunity to read it early and share my thoughts with you.

This book shares the stories and insights of how Hadestown came to be, specifically focusing on the music. The lyrics for every song are in the books followed by stories about it's creation in every phase of this multi-year project. It is fascinating insight into the process of making musicals, and even more interesting from Anaïs Mitchell who is not a traditional musical lyricist.

I adore Hadestown from the moment I listened to the original album prior to it debuting on Broadway. So I new I would love this book and all of the details it would have and make the show even more special. I would listen to the song as I read the lyrics, and would pause to read the stories and notes shared before continuing. I definitely recommend doing that to make the experience of reading even more special.

And even if you haven't listened to or seen Hadestown, the books is still interesting and shows us some ins and outs of building a Broadway show we wouldn't have ever known otherwise. This show has been written and rewritten and performed in so many different iterations that learning it's history through its music is an enjoyable and insightful read.

Overall, I highly recommend Working on a Song to every Hadestown fan and to general Broadway and music fans as well. It's full of interesting information about the show and music, and is very personal to Anaïs' experience in Broadway and her love for the show. I enjoyed it so much, I ordered my own copy to keep after only the first few songs.

I was lucky enough to get to see this amazing musical on Broadway in October and this book is the perfect complement to it. Filled with insight and behind the scenes stories, i loved every min of reading this and it made the musical come to life again.

Disclaimer: I received an advanced copy of this book via NetGalley.
I am a HUGE Hadestown fan. I've been listening to the various soundtracks (the London show, the Original Broadway cast, etc) for years.
There's background info on the various productions, both off-Broadway and Broadway. The full lyrics are in the book, along with information and analyses on each. I loved learning more about each song.
This is a must-read for any fan of Hadestown, or for any fan of Greek mythology who might be interested in this re-telling.

I anticipated that I would enjoy this, but I didn't realize how much. Mitchell's narrative is about creative process, and the compromises necessary for the musical medium. Her insights into storytelling are fascinating, and I loved seeing the show progress through the multiple lives that it lead. I was fascinated by the collaborative nature of the final product. So many voices come together through the book, bridging together into one cohesive work of art. One of the best "behind the musical" books that I've read, and I have many on my shelves.

Review to be posted to Instagram @honeyedwordsreads 2 weeks prior to publishing date.

I love Hadestown and this was such an interesting look into the process of its creation and how much work actually goes into developing a Broadway muscial.