L. Frank Baum and The Wonderful Wizard of Oz
Friday July 7, 2006
Having just attended an entertaining Music Theatre of Wichita performance of The Wizard of Oz with my daughter and two grandchildren, Oz and L. Frank Baum are on my mind. The Wonderful Wizard of Oz by L. Frank Baum was published in 1900. It's become a children's classic. According to Baum, "...[The Wonderful Wizard of Oz] aspires to being a modernized fairy tale, in which the wonderment and joy are retained and the heart-aches and nightmares are left out."
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The book and movie versions of The Wonderful Wizard of Oz are combined in many people’s minds. It only takes a quick glance at the book, though, to discover Baum’s delightful prose and his wonderful sense of humor. My favorite of the Oz books, though is the second one he wrote (which does NOT feature Dorothy) - the Marvelous Land of Oz. Great fun!