- Hardcover: 375 pages
- Publisher: Continuum International Publishing Group Ltd.; 1st Edition edition (17 Jan 2008)
- Language English
- ISBN-10: 0826497918
- ISBN-13: 978-0826497918
- Product Dimensions: 23.6 x 16.3 x 3.3 cm
- Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (1 customer review)
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 645,439 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- See Complete Table of Contents
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"Separate micro-histories of all these elements, drawn together to inform the whole, is a clever way of writing a monograph about the myth and the ways in which it has passed into cultural currency""wide-ranging and well-researched volume""a fascinating volume which will appeal to scholars and a general readership alike"Cambridge Journals, may 2009--,
Product Description
The tales surrounding Sweeney Todd's notorious barber shop in London's Fleet Street have entertained generations of audiences and have made Todd himself one of the most famous - or perhaps notorious - characters in the city's history."The Wonderful and Surprising History of Sweeney Todd" traces the fortunes of Todd's narrative from its earliest 'proper' appearance as a Victorian 'penny blood' in 1846-47, and then as a popular melodrama on the stage, through to its twentieth-century manifestation in film, ballet, musicals, and opera up to current and future productions, including the forthcoming Tim Burton/Johnny Depp film version of Stephen Sondheim's 1979 Broadway masterpiece. Each successive generation has found a compelling fascination in Sweeney Todd's themes of avarice, ambition, desire, appetite, retribution, justice, and cannibalism. Following in the footsteps of the myth, this fascinating book takes the reader on a journey from the roots of the story in the alleyways and pie-shops of Victorian London to its modern incarnations on stage, screen and in popular culture.
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
Format:Hardcover
First, the good part: this book is an excellent review of the sources of the urban legend of Sweeney Todd. While Mack doesn't state it so baldly in so many words, it is evident that there was no "Sweeney Todd" historical real person. However, Mack also acknowledges implicitly that the legend will probably still persist among Britishers that there *really* was a Sweeney Todd, but at least the book is on record to indicate otherwise. Mack does a splendid job of tracing the roots of the legend through Sweeney-like criminal stories in France, as well as the metaphysical aspects of the story in the development of London and the Industrial Revolution. His book stops just as the Tim Burton film of Sondheim's musical, with Johnny Depp in the title role, was about to go into production. It will be interesting if Mack produces a revised edition down the line to incorporate discussion of the film, and any new research.
Now, the more nit-picky part: if there is to be a second edition, several errors need to be fixed, such as misspellings of noted artists such as these:
1. The actor Ronald Colman's last name is misspelled as "Coleman".
2. The character of Alfred Doolittle from "My Fair Lady" is misspelled as "Dolittle".
3. The conductor Charles Mackerras' last name is misspelled as "Mackarras".
In addition, there is a major factual howler about the director of the 1966 film of "A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum", where Mack states the director as Melvin Frank. In fact, the film's director was Richard Lester.
One inconsistency between the text and the (very useful) Appendix on the "Genealogy, History and Chronology" of Sweeney Todd is that with respect to the 1928 film, the actress Zoe Palmer is indicated as having portrayed Mrs. Lovett in the main text, but in the appendix, is listed as having played Johanna. This inconsistency needs to be corrected.
But quibbles aside, once past these (and the occasionally heavy academic-ish tone), this book again makes a very informative introduction to this fictional urban legend.
Now, the more nit-picky part: if there is to be a second edition, several errors need to be fixed, such as misspellings of noted artists such as these:
1. The actor Ronald Colman's last name is misspelled as "Coleman".
2. The character of Alfred Doolittle from "My Fair Lady" is misspelled as "Dolittle".
3. The conductor Charles Mackerras' last name is misspelled as "Mackarras".
In addition, there is a major factual howler about the director of the 1966 film of "A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum", where Mack states the director as Melvin Frank. In fact, the film's director was Richard Lester.
One inconsistency between the text and the (very useful) Appendix on the "Genealogy, History and Chronology" of Sweeney Todd is that with respect to the 1928 film, the actress Zoe Palmer is indicated as having portrayed Mrs. Lovett in the main text, but in the appendix, is listed as having played Johanna. This inconsistency needs to be corrected.
But quibbles aside, once past these (and the occasionally heavy academic-ish tone), this book again makes a very informative introduction to this fictional urban legend.
Most Helpful Customer Reviews on Amazon.com (beta)
Amazon.com:
2 reviews
16 of 18 people found the following review helpful
A Devotee's Delight
18 Jan 2008
Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase
If you are a Devotee of the legend/story/history/you-name-it of Sweeney Todd you should devour this book. Notice the capital "D". At times Mack gives us just a bit too much info, but then again it's all interesting. Of course, discourses on the general subject of cannibalism are a necessary part of the story. What's nice is that although it was published just before Johnny Depp added his interpretation for the benefit of the public at large, Mack touches on the story behind this latest film production...quoting Sondheim and Depp among others. A must-read starts on page 108 when the classic original story "The String of Pearls" is summarized.
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
Excellent history of the Sweeney Todd urban legend (some errors present, though)
19 Jun 2011
Format:Hardcover
First, the good part: this book is an excellent review of the sources of the urban legend of Sweeney Todd. While Mack doesn't state it so baldly in so many words, it is evident that there was no "Sweeney Todd" historical real person. However, Mack also acknowledges implicitly that the legend will probably still persist among Britishers that there *really* was a Sweeney Todd, but at least the book is on record to indicate otherwise. Mack does a splendid job of tracing the roots of the legend through Sweeney-like criminal stories in France, as well as the metaphysical aspects of the story in the development of London and the Industrial Revolution. His book stops just as the Tim Burton film of Sondheim's musical, with Johnny Depp in the title role, was about to go into production. It will be interesting if Mack produces a revised edition down the line to incorporate discussion of the film, and any new research.
Now, the more nit-picky part: if there is to be a second edition, several errors need to be fixed, such as misspellings of noted artists such as these:
1. The actor Ronald Colman's last name is misspelled as "Coleman" (p. 222).
2. The character of Alfred Doolittle from "My Fair Lady" is misspelled as "Dolittle" (p. 219)
3. The conductor Charles Mackerras' last name is misspelled as "Mackarras" (p. 255).
In addition, there is a major factual howler about the director of the 1966 film of "A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum", where Mack states the director as Melvin Frank on p. 304. In fact, the film's director was Richard Lester.
One inconsistency between the text and the (very useful) Appendix on the "Genealogy, History and Chronology" of Sweeney Todd is that with respect to the 1928 film, the actress Zoe Palmer is indicated as having portrayed Mrs. Lovett in the main text, but in the appendix, is listed as having played Johanna. This inconsistency needs to be corrected.
But quibbles aside, once past these (and the occasionally heavy academic-ish tone), this book again makes a very informative introduction to this fictional urban legend.
Now, the more nit-picky part: if there is to be a second edition, several errors need to be fixed, such as misspellings of noted artists such as these:
1. The actor Ronald Colman's last name is misspelled as "Coleman" (p. 222).
2. The character of Alfred Doolittle from "My Fair Lady" is misspelled as "Dolittle" (p. 219)
3. The conductor Charles Mackerras' last name is misspelled as "Mackarras" (p. 255).
In addition, there is a major factual howler about the director of the 1966 film of "A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum", where Mack states the director as Melvin Frank on p. 304. In fact, the film's director was Richard Lester.
One inconsistency between the text and the (very useful) Appendix on the "Genealogy, History and Chronology" of Sweeney Todd is that with respect to the 1928 film, the actress Zoe Palmer is indicated as having portrayed Mrs. Lovett in the main text, but in the appendix, is listed as having played Johanna. This inconsistency needs to be corrected.
But quibbles aside, once past these (and the occasionally heavy academic-ish tone), this book again makes a very informative introduction to this fictional urban legend.
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