The Letters of Oscar Hammerstein II

"The Letters of Oscar Hammerstein II is a collection of hundreds of letters to and from and the man who all but invented the modern Broadway musical. Best remembered for Show Boat, Oklahoma!, Carousel, South Pacific, The King and I, Cinderella, and The Sound of Music, Hammerstein was a lyricist, librettist, and producer—not only on Broadway, but also in Hollywood, London, and on television. The letters deal with all aspects of show business. Oscar’s correspondents included Edna Ferber, Arthur Freed, Judy Holliday, Jerome Kern, Gertrude Lawrence, Josh Logan, General Douglas MacArthur, Mary Martin, James Michener, Basil Rathbone, Richard Rodgers, Billy Rose, Stephen Sondheim, John Steinbeck, and Florenz Ziegfeld. The letters are funny, revealing, touching, and surprising. There are passionate love letters, friendly and witty letters, angry and conciliatory letters—all of them exquisitely written. His correspondence is also a mirror of his times, reflecting the challenges of race and prejudice, war and peace"--Publisher's description.