Hamilton: The Revolution

The revolutionary musical Hamilton by Lin-Manuel Miranda is just as revolutionary as its protagonist, the underprivileged Caribbean child who opposed the British, stood up for the Constitution, and contributed to the founding of the United States. This once-in-a-generation production, which blends hip-hop, pop, R&B, and the greatest theatrical traditions, expands the Broadway sound, demonstrates the narrative potential of rap, and asserts the roots of our nation for a multicultural new generation.

From the only two authors qualified to deliver it, Hamilton: The Revolution offers readers a never-before-seen perspective on both revolutions. The development of the project is traced by Miranda and Jeremy McCarter, a cultural critic and theatre artist who has been involved since the beginning—"since before this was even a show," as Miranda puts it—from an unlikely performance at the White House to its historic Broadway opening night six years later. Furthermore, Miranda has penned over 200 humorous and insightful footnotes for his critically acclaimed libretto, which may be found in its entirety here.

Photographs by the legendary Frank Ockenfels and seasoned Broadway photographer Joan Marcus, behind-the-scenes peeks at notebooks and emails, interviews with Questlove, Stephen Sondheim, prominent political pundits, and over forty cast members, as well as several appearances by President Obama himself, are all featured in their account. Beyond narrating the unexpected tale of how a Broadway musical became a national sensation, the book shows that America has always been rejuvenated by bold outsiders and bright upstarts—men and women who don't give up on their dreams.