-The Wizard of Oz

https://www.lehigh.edu/~asj316/children/oz_001.jpg

First published in 1900 in a series of fourteen novels, this work introduces the character of Dorothy and her quest to return home to Kansas after being transported to the fantastical world of Oz by a cyclone. Along her journey, Dorothy acquires a pair of magical silver shoes and meets iconic characters including the Cowardly Lion, Tin Woodman, and Scarecrow. Dorothy eventually arrives at the capital of Oz, the Emerald City, built entirely out of marble, decorated with precious stones, and with streets of gold. There have been several interpretations of this work, including one that theorizes the novel is a satirical allegory for late 19th century American politics, with the silver shoes being a reference to the debate over the silver currency standard. This story became an immensely popular part of American culture with the release of the 1939 musical film starring Judy Garland, which was notable for its use of Technicolor.

L. Frank Baum (1856-1919).
The Wizard of Oz & Who He Was. East Lansing: Michigan State University Press, 1957.

Lehigh University Catalog Record: https://asa.lib.lehigh.edu/Record/10720548

A version of this text has been digitized and is available through the Internet Archive.

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Digitized Version