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| L. Frank Baum |
Baum was born in 1856 in Chittenango, New York. His father was a wealthy businessman and Frank (he preferred his middle name) grew up on the family Rose Lawn estate. He was tutored at home until being sent to a military academy at the age of twelve. Baum was reportedly miserable and returned home after two years.
Baum published his first book at the age of thirty: The Book of the Hamburgs: A Brief Treatise upon the Mating, Rearing, and Management of the Different Varieties of Hamburgs. It was a book about breeding and raising a special breed of chickens, a popular activity at the time.
Baum edited a South Dakota newspaper until it went bankrupt in 1891, but not befre in 1890, he wrote an opinion column calling for the extermination of all Native Americans. Baum moved his family to Chicago after the paper closed.
Baum partnered with illustrator W. W. Denslow to publish The Wonderful Wizard of Oz in 1900 and it was the best-selling children's book in America for two years. Baum wrote thirteen sequels. The last, Glinda of Oz, was published after his death in 1920.
Click Here for a review of The Wonderful Wizard of Oz
Click Here for a review of The Marvelous Land of Oz
I still have three Oz books from my very earliest years - they were published in the late 30's.
ReplyDeleteI recently read one of them [I have them downloaded and bookmarked] and was amazed at how well he wrote. Clear, concise, great descriptions and stories to keep children interested.
I think he was the JK Rowling of his time and it's a shame the current generation hasn't been made aware of these great stories.
I agree...I'm just finding them now as an adult.
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