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The deceased Herbert Kretzmer, who created the English libretto for Les Misérables, believed he was insufficiently recognized for transforming the initial French production into the extremely successful English-language version, correspondence have revealed.

They were discovered in the collection of Kretzmer, who passed away in 2020 at 95 years old, after it was given to Cambridge University Library.

A message that Kretzmer sent to theatre producer Cameron Mackintosh in 1987 discussed "unpleasant actions taken by others to diminish my recognition and contribution".

"I think it will clarify matters if I explain, for the first and I hope only time, the clear and provable reality about the authorship of the English version of the musical," he stated.

"Few individuals have had the opportunity to contrast my English version, thoroughly with the French source material.

"Therefore allow me, as concisely as I can, emphasize the evidence for stating that, in terms of the precise text now being performed nightly in New York and London, there is minimal indeed that can be called translation.

"Les Miserables in English is essentially a fresh, rewritten show."

He characterized it as "an extensive amount of content that is so entirely reimagined and rewritten that there is not any major correspondence between my lyrics and the original French version."

"I'm sorry that this correspondence has to be composed at all, but in light of the unpleasant actions taken by others to reduce my acknowledgment and work, I must highlight that Les Miserables is not a production translated or re-written, but a show reborn," he commented.

Text alterations found

Dr Liz Savage, archive specialist at Cambridge University Library, helped to catalogue the musical parts of the archive.

She found multiple modifications in Kretzmer's second draft of the production, including altering "common" to "furious" in the number Do You Hear The People Sing?

The song, which has been chanted in rallies around the world, commences: "Do you hear the people sing?/ Singing the song of angry men."

The collection also discloses how Kretzmer tried out multiple different terms first, including "valiant" and "dauntless", before choosing "enraged".

Papers also reveal that the song Stars was in jeopardy of being removed, before insistence from Kretzmer and others to keep it, expressing: "It is essential that we altogether separate ourselves from the determination to remove Stars. We do not agree that the show is compromised by the inclusion of this tune."

Kretzmer's widow, Sybil, stated: "The reputation of the institution demonstrates the effect and influence of Herbert's contributions, and we believe the archive will be conserved by the Library and continue for posterity, just like the musical itself."

More Discoveries

The archive also includes a 1985 memo about auditions, which reveals Brian Blessed was among those discussed for roles in the first company, noting he "was training diligently on his vocal abilities, and has made substantial advancements".

It also states Fiddler On The Roof actor Chaim Topol and Exorcist star Max von Sydow "should, be able to travel to London... to consider the characters of the protagonist and Javert".

The archive also features messages from huge names including actors Frank Sinatra and Peter Sellers, and pictures photographed by director Stanley Kubrick, along with Kretzmer's clippings from his newspaper work and his theatrical endeavors.

The South African-born English writer also created the text to the hit from 1960 Goodness Gracious Me, popularized by Sellers and Sophia Loren. He also worked with artist from France Charles Aznavour on his successful 1974 song She.