We have a winner! 'Hamilton: The Revolution' by Lin-Manuel Miranda and Jeremy McCarter giveaway
A little thank you for being a Foreign Bodies subscriber
PSA: This giveaway is only open to paying subscribers or comps (gifted subscriptions). Please—if you haven’t yet—subscribe and help keep Foreign Bodies afloat!
Update: We have a winner!
Original post:
Beyond thrilled to announce our next giveaway. I’ll be mailing one lucky subscriber a brand new copy of the knockout best-seller Hamilton: The Revolution by Lin-Manuel Miranda and Jeremy McCarter, packaged with an autographed card from none other than Mr. Miranda himself. I reached out to the Hamilton crew about this Foreign Bodies giveaway a while back and was absolutely shocked to actually receive a signed card in the mail, so I hope whoever gets this gift appreciates it as much as I do! Entries accepted through Friday, Feb. 28 at 8 p.m. EST.
About the book
Hamilton: The Revolution by Lin-Manuel Miranda and Jeremy McCarter holds a special, special place in my heart, and not just because the live musical is just as magical as everyone says. In fact, when I bought this, I hadn’t even listened to a single track from the show.
This was actually the very first book I finished reading from front to back after my depression diagnosis—and the first I read for pleasure since college. It taught me how to love (well, not hate) America after years of doubting my place within these messy, messy borders. It made me feel proud to be an immigrant and completely pulled me back into the arts—into storytelling as a superpower.
“The book does more than tell the surprising story of how a Broadway musical became a national phenomenon. It demonstrates that America has always been renewed by the brash upstarts and brilliant outsiders, the men and women who don't throw away their shot.” (Grand Central Publishing)
Dubbed #Hamiltome on social media, the giant work features complete lyrics to the show annotated with playful and personal behind-the-scenes footnotes from lyricist, composer and star Lin-Manuel Miranda. You’ll also find exclusive photos and incredible essays about the show's development and production by theater critic Jeremy McCarter, plus interviews with Questlove, Stephen Sondheim, leading political commentators and multiple appearances by President Obama.
Pro tip: As you read, don’t skip over the pages of song lyrics, whether you’re brand new to Hamilton or a die-hard fan. It’s fascinating to read about a certain song and the labor and care that went into its production before listening to it in full as you read the lyrics.
And ICYMI:
Praise for Hamilton: The Revolution
The book is based on the hit musical Hamilton, which won the 2016 Pulitzer Prize for Drama and has Eleven Tony Awards to its name. The show, which predominantly features nonwhite cast members, tells the story of American Founding Father Alexander Hamilton (played by Miranda) through hip hop, R&B, pop, soul, and traditional show tunes. It’s the story of “America then, as told by America now.”
From Sunny Stalter-Pace of the Los Angeles Review of Books:
With its back and forth between narrative and song, the Hamiltome is structured like a conventional musical. A chapter describes how and where a particular song was composed, or profiles the actor playing the role; then we see how that history plays out onstage. In the second act, the relationship between chapter and song gets a little wobblier and more conceptual. The discussion of lighting and sound design gives me a clearer sense of how chaos erupts onstage during the “Hurricane” and “Reynolds Pamphlet” numbers. The dialogue between David Brooks and Chris Hayes is a less-than-revelatory prelude to “The Election of 1800.” “A Grieving Chapter: On Losses Beyond Words” achieves the seemingly impossible task of making “It’s Quiet Uptown” an even more heartbreaking song. We find out that Oskar and Laurie Eustis’s teenage son died in the midst of rehearsals, an awful echo of the Hamiltons’ loss of their firstborn son. Hamilton: A Revolution shows the complicated relationship between the historical figures in the play and the actors who play them. We get a sense of the processes of empathy and distancing that are at work.
About Foreign Bodies giveaways
Whenever I read a book I fall in love with, I’m driven to give everyone around me a sprinkle of the magic. That means you too. These little surprise giveaways are my special way of thanking you for joining the Foreign Bodies family. I hope the books and collections I send your way make you feel a little more at home, or perhaps inspire you to learn a bit more about the myriad voices out there, voices we don’t get the privilege of hearing as often as we could.
Giveaway rules
Entrants must be paying subscribers or comps (gift recipients) of the Foreign Bodies Newsletter and must have a valid U.S. mailing address. You may only enter once and must use the email address affiliated with your account. Each entry will be assigned a number and winner(s) will be chosen using the Random Integer Generator. Winner(s) will be notified via email and your gift will come personally packaged in the mail.
If you have any additional questions or concerns, please email 4nbodies@gmail.com.
Recommend a book!
Have a favorite immigrant-written book, collection of essays or poetry or what-have-you? Stories that made you feel understood? Stories about immigrant or refugee experiences, about mental illness? Send your recommendations—especially if it’s your own work. And check out the wealth of books and essays we already have up on foreignbodies.net!
Are you an author?
Want your book or collection to be part of a Foreign Bodies giveaway? Just fill out the form below and we’ll be in touch as soon as a giveaway slot opens.
Love,
Fiza