Full Description
L. Frank Baum's The Wonderful Wizard of Oz first appeared in print in September 1900, and it has since become a classic in the world of children's literature. Often described as America's first original fairy tale, it has helped establish a fantasy tradition in American literature. Dorothy Gale, the central character in the novel, is one of the first female characters in American literature to go on a quest, and this aspect of the novel adds to its contemporary relevance and appeal. This Broadview Edition provides primary source documents that help shed light on Baum's inspirations, his contemporaries, his thoughts on writing, and reviews from the novel's first release. The edition also includes an introduction, original annotations, a chronology of Baum's life, and a comprehensive bibliography. All of William Wallace Denslow's in-text illustrations are included in black and white, and the original color plates are reproduced in a separate section.
Contents
Appendix A: Related L. Frank Baum Texts
1. "Hickory, Dickory, Dock," Mother Goose in Prose (1897)
2. "What Children Want," The Chicago Evening Post (29 November 1902)
3. "Modern Fairy Tales," The Advance (19 August 1909)
Appendix B: Literary Influences
1. From Matilda Joslyn Gage, "Witchcraft," Woman, Church and State: A Historical Account of the Status of Woman through the Christian Ages (1893)
2. Jacob and Wilhelm Grimm, "Hansel and Grettel" (1812)
3. From Hans Christian Andersen, "The Little Mermaid" (1837)
4. Frank R. Stockton, "Ting-a-ling," Ting-a-ling (1870)
5. Howard Pyle, "Cousin Greylegs, the Great Red Fox, and Grandfather Mole," The Wonder Clock (1888)
Appendix C: Contemporary Reviews
1. From "A New Book for Children," The New York Times (8 September 1900)
2. From "The Wizard of Oz," The Baltimore Sun (20 September 1900)
3. From "The Wonderful Wizard of Oz," The San Francisco Call (18 November 1900)
Appendix D: Notable Stage and Film Productions and Adaptations
