Les Misérables lyricist felt lack of credit, archive reveals

Herbert Kretzmer, the lyricist behind the iconic musical Les Misérables, expressed feelings of underappreciation for his contributions, as revealed in a recently uncovered archive. He described his adaptation as 'virtually a new, rewritten show' compared to the original French version. This insight matters because it highlights the often-overlooked role of lyricists in theater, reminding us that adaptations can be transformative and deserve recognition.