A Review of Marc Napolitano's Oliver! A Dickensian Musical

Oliver!: a Dickensian Musical is a book about Lionel Bart's world-renowned musical Oliver!. In this text, author Marc Napolitano provides a comprehensive “biography” of Oliver!, outlining everything from the musical’s initial conception, to its impact in the 21st century. The author considers many points of view and incorporates a wide range of sources, including members of the musical’s creative team and opposing critics. in doing so, he creates a balanced, well-rounded book. Because of the depth of information, those with an interest in all elements of musical theatre will find this book appealing. Previous knowledge of Oliver Twist and certain British musical traditions are necessary to fully grasp the text