L Frank Baum

Since it was first introduced over a hundred years ago in The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, L. Frank Baum's world of Oz has become one of the most enduring and beloved creations in children's literature. It has influenced numerous prominent writers and intellectuals, and become a lasting part of the culture itself. L. Frank Baum was born in 1856 in upstate New York, the seventh child of a very successful barrel-maker and later oil producer. However, Baum's own career path was a rocky one. Beginning as an actor, Baum tried working as a traveling salesman, the editor of a small town newspaper and the publisher of a trade journal on retailing, failing to distinguish himself in any occupation. His careers either failed to provide a sufficient living for his beloved wife Maud and their children or were so exhausting as to be debilitating. In the 1890's, L. Frank Baum took the advice of his mother-in-law, suffragist leader Matilda Gage, and turned his attention to trying to sell the stories he'd been telling to his sons and their friends. After a few children's books published with varying success, he published The Wonderful Wizard of Oz in 1900 and it quickly became a bestseller and has remained so ever since. In this first full-length adult biography of Baum, Rogers discusses some of the aspects that made his work unique and has likely contributed to Oz's long-lasting appeal, including Baum's early support of feminism and how it was reflected in his characters, his interest in Theosophy and how it took form in his books, and the celebration in his stories of traditional American values. Grounding his imaginative creations, particularly in his fourteen Oz books, in the reality of his day, Katharine M. Rogers explores the fascinating life and influences of America's greatest writer for children.

A collection of fifteen favorite stories from the author's "Oz" series.

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Known world-wide for his "The Wizard of Oz" series of fantasy books, L. Frank Baum also wrote many short stories. We bring together 29 of his public domain short stories which are not part of any other collection of his work (omitted are the short stories in "American Fairy Tales", "Animal Fairy Tales", "Little Wizard Stories of Oz", "Queer Visitors from the Marvelous Land of Oz", "Mother Goose in Prose", and "Our Landlady".

Published in 1909, THE ROAD TO OZ is the fifth book in Baum's series. In this particular book, Dorothy Gale of Kansas comes to the aid of 'The Shaggy Man'--a likeable hobo in ragged clothes--who asks her for directions. It is easier to show him than explain it to him, but when Dorothy leads him to the proper road she finds a multitude of roads she did not expect and with which she is unfamiliar. She continues with Toto and The Shaggy Man and soon meets two others who are equally lost: Button-Bright, a little boy who seems remarkably stupid, and Polychrome, the daughter of the Rainbow, who is accidentally stranded on earth. Together they visit the strange towns of Foxville and Donkinton and confront a truly nasty group of beings known as Scoodlers. Eventually they arrive in Oz just in time for Ozma's birthday celebration.

When moviegoers accompany Dorothy through the gates of the Emerald City, they may think they have discovered all there is to see of Oz—but as real friends of the Wizard know, more lies behind the curtain. The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, on which the 1939 film was based, was only the first of 14 Oz books. Together these works constitute a series rich in allusions to a broad range of literary traditions, including fairy tale, myth, epic, the picaresque novel, and visions of utopia. Reflecting on L. Frank Baum’s entire series of full-length Oz books, this study introduces readers to the great folklorist who created not only Dorothy and friends, but countless wonderful characters who still await discovery. Close analysis of each book invites readers to search Baum’s fascinating stories for meaning and mythical quality. Progressing chronologically through the canon, the author discusses literary devices and important thematic implications in each book, arguing that Baum wrote for the pleasure of both children and adults, both to provide entertainment and to teach moral lessons. Of particular significance is the argument, sustained over several chapters, that Baum modeled his Oz books on classic mythical patterns, rewriting Oz history in nearly every book to produce a different set of backgrounds and a different conception of utopia for his imaginary kingdom. This variety of backgrounds and archetypes gives Baum’s books a truly universal appeal. Examinations of his non-Oz books and his other Oz works, such as Little Wizard Stories of Oz and The Woggle-Bug Book, illuminate the discussion of the Oz novels.

The Wonderful Wizard of Oz remains one of the world's most beloved and widely read books. Throughout a century of remarkable change, the popularity of L. Frank Baum's classic tale has endured and grown, embraced by generation after generation of children and the young at heart. To honour the centennial of its publication in 1900, the University Press of Kansas is presenting this special anniversary edition that combines Baum's original text with the contributions of two renowned artists: book illustrator Michael McCurdy and writer Ray Bradbury. The book embraces and celebrates the oft-kidded connection between Baum's wondrous story and the state of Kansas.

The Wonderful Wizard of Oz is an American children's novel written by author L. Frank Baum and illustrated by W.W. Denslow, originally published by the George M. Hill Company in May 1900. It has since seen several reprints, most often under the title The Wizard of Oz, which is the title of the popular 1902 Broadway musical adaptation as well as the iconic 1939 live-action film.The story chronicles the adventures of a young farm girl named Dorothy Gale in the magical Land of Oz after she and her pet dog Toto are swept away from their home in Kansas by a cyclone. The book is one of the best-known stories in American literature and has been widely translated. The Library of Congress has declared it "America's greatest and best-loved homegrown fairytale." Its groundbreaking success, and that of the Broadway musical adapted from the novel led Baum to write thirteen additional Oz books that serve as official sequels to the first story.In January 1901, George M. Hill Company completed printing the first edition, a total of 10,000 copies, which quickly sold out. It had sold three million copies by the time it entered the public domain in 1956.