Hello, everyone! Welcome or welcome back to my blog. Today, I am going to review a classic fiction novel. But the novel thing about this novel is, that unlike most classics, this one is for children. This is Lyman Frank Baum’s ‘The Wizard of Oz’. Without further ado, let us get started. But, before we begin, I think a little credit is due to the man who wrote this wonderful story.
About the Author:
Lyman Frank Baum (May 15, 1856 – May 6, 1919) was an American author of children’s books, best known for writing ‘The Wonderful Wizard of Oz’. He started writing at an early age, perhaps due to an early fascination with printing. His father bought him a cheap printing press; which, with the help of his younger brother Henry Clay Baum, with whom he had always been close, he used the produce ‘The Rose Lawn Home Journal’.
Baum was born in Chittenango, New York, into a devout Methodist family. His father was a wealthy businessman, originally a barrel maker, who had made his fortune in the oil fields of Pennsylvania. Baum grew up on his parents’ expansive estate, Rose Lawn, which he always remembered fondly as a sort of paradise. In his career, he wrote thriteen novel sequels, nine other fantasy novels, and a host of other works (55 novels in total, plus four ‘lost’ novels, 83 short stories, over 200 poems, and many miscellaneous writings), and made numerous attempts to bring his works to the stage and the screen.
The Wizard Of Oz:
Dorothy is playing with her dog Toto, on her uncle’s farm in Kansas. Suddenly, a cyclone appears out of nowhere, and Dorothy is caught unawares. She and Toto rush into the house and hide underneath her bed, but the cyclone lifts the house itself and starts spinning it. When Dorothy regains consciousness, she finds herself in a strange land. It is the Land of the Munchkins. There, she meets the Good Witch of the North, who tells her that if she wants to go back home, she must travel to Emerald City. In Emerald City, lives the Wizard of Oz, and he is the only one who can tell her how she is to get back home.
She and Toto set off along the Yellow Brick Road, which leads to Emerald City. On the way, she meets a scarecrow, a tin-man, and a cowardly lion. The Scarecrow wants a brain for himself; the tin-man wants a heart to feel emotions with; the lion is in search for courage with which he can rule the jungle like a proper king. When they hear her tale and that she is going to visit the Wizard of Oz, they decide to come along. They hope that the Wizard will solve their troubles, too.
The Yellow Brick Road is not an easy one. Their journey to Emerald city is exhausting and full of adventures. But they make it, and are led to the Wizard’s Palace by the guardian of the city. The Wizard asks them to come to him one by one, on separate days. When they go to him, he promises to solve all their troubles, on one condition. They must kill the Wicked Witch of the West. And that, is easier said than done.
They set off to find the witch, but she manages to spoil their efforts. She imprisons Lion and makes Dorothy her slave. But finally, by a stroke of luck, Dorothy manages to kill her and all of them head back to Emerald City. When they reach, however, they are in for a shock. The Wizard of Oz’s true face is revealed, and he is not what he seems. But finally, the Scarecrow gets a brain, the Tin-man gets a heart, and the Lion gets his courage. The question remains, will Dorothy and Toto ever get back home?
Outro:
I hope you enjoyed the review. Although the novel is primarily for children, it is a lot of fun to read. I will be back next week with another post. So, please stay tuned. And until then, goodbye!