Firstly I would like to thank Jennifer Schwed , Doug Bradshaw , Through the 4th Wall Publishing and Net Galley for providing me with a copy of ' 19 : The Musical ' on audiobook to listen to and review .

I am personally an avid follower of musical theatre and have watched many documentaries about the suffragette movement, so this book was the perfect blend for me. I had heard a little about the stage production at the time of its opening , but in all honesty I feel that it is a production that is not widely known about.

The story follows the defiant tale of the women who risked their lives to stand up to oppression and fought for their rights to vote. Their fearlessness paving the way for a better future for subsequent generations. The title '19 ' refers to the 19th amendment that needed to be passed for the suffragist movement to be victorious and for females to be given equal rights.
Whilst we have all heard of Emily Pankhurst , embarrassingly I had not heard of Alice Paul before today. Hearing her story retold in such a modern and unique way was inspiring . Like ' Hamilton' and 'Six' before it , this musical brought history back to life.

The whole book is very immersive combining the spoken word with haunting musical numbers. The first song giving a very lively and upbeat introduction with a jazzy composition which has honkytonk vibes . I felt it was very reminiscent of Chicago and Bonnie and Clyde.
Any Musical that can rhyme ' Crusading and Persuading' Is an absolute winner for me .
The tale translates well from the stage book to an audiobook version and it is very easy to visualise . I only wish there were more stage shows told in this way.

I was completely awestruck by both the physical and psychological abuse these women endured whilst imprisoned , but they didn't falter . The story is completely harrowing and the music reflects the turmoil of this . This is a book for all ages especially as it's told in such a modern way to engage the younger listener. Whilst providing historical accuracy it is told in an engaging up to date way with contemporary terminology such as ' scratch that' ' slow your roll' and ' #blessed'
I also adored the letters that Alice wrote to her mother that were emotional as Alice tells her of her plight and her hopes and dreams.

I devoured this book in one sitting and enjoyed every single minute to a point that I want to listen to it all over again in the near future. The cast performs so well and their voices are outstanding. The finale is exceptional , the vocal blending and the way the story is drawn to a close stayed with me for a long while after the final note had reverberated.
I wish I could give this book more than 5 stars

#19TheMusical #NetGalley