"Not only is Lerner's boast (to Bob Fosse) that his letters 'are usually terribly well-written and frequently amusing' an accurate one, the same could be said for Dominic McHugh's informative and stylish commentary on Lerner's witty, illuminating letters, like a gripping epistolary novel told by a reliable narrator." --Geoffrey Block, author of Enchanted Evenings: The Broadway Musical from "Show Boat" to Sondheim and Lloyd Webber (OUP, 2009) and Series Editor of Oxford's Broadway Legacies "A fascinating insight into aspects of the creation of some of the most celebrated musicals ever written. The great lyricist also wrote great letters revealing the agonies and ecstasies of theatrical hits and misses, which could never be so thoughtfully expressed in today's hasty social media era." - Sir Tim Rice "This fascinating collection of letters by one of the musical theatre's greatest lyricists reveals, in a witty, elegant and self-deprecating style, the importance of collaboration in the musical theatre. It is a rare insight into how true collaborators influence each other's work, seamlessly criss-crossing the writing of the words and the music with the requirements of staging, as a show comes together - or not! Alan's letters also reveal that as well as being remembered as a great lyricist he also had numerous other talents, sometimes spread too thinly, including being a prolific librettist and screenplay writer, behind the scenes producer, occasional director, skilful fundraiser, beguiling casting director, wily diplomat and eternal optimist. I feel lucky to have walked on the street while he lived." - Sir Cameron Mackintosh "Lerner's complete works have been somewhat shaded by the supreme triumph of musical theatre that is My Fair Lady. At last we have a serious book that redresses that balance whilst at the same time telling why Lerner and his small band of fellow genius wordsmiths deserve equal billing with their composers.

" - Lord Michael Grade "Before the desire for instant messaging there was the letter. With his passion for the English language Alan Jay Lerner was a master at the written word. This hugely enjoyable and insightful collection of his letters allows the reader a glimpse of the peaks and troughs that one of the greatest lyricists of all time experienced to produce the perfect lyric to be sung in the perfect musical." - Liz Robertson, widow of Alan Jay Lerner.