The Real Wizard of Oz: The Life and Times of L. Frank Baum

A captivating biography of the eccentric author, filmmaker, and innovator, L. Frank Baum

Enchanting generations of fans, "The Wonderful Wizard of Oz," first published in 1900, was written by a man whose life was nearly as adventurous as his heroine Dorothy s legendary trip. Ambitious and always drawn to the unconventional, L. Frank Baum was not just the author of more than sixty books; he was at the forefront of moving picture technology and championed women s rights. A unique celebration of Baum s life, "The Real Wizard of Oz" explores the eventful times in which Baum lived (1856-1919), which influenced nearly every aspect of the Oz tales from the Civil War to Hollywood (which was emerging as a mecca for creative hopefuls) to the gulf between America s heartland, with its tornado alleys and its cities teeming with Tin Man factory workers.

Baum, who died in 1919, two decades before MGM re-created his vision in eye-popping Technicolor, was a remarkable entrepreneur. He also developed the story for Broadway and created The Oz Film Manufacturing Company, convinced that he had found the perfect medium for children s stories an audacious idea that made him a laughingstock among film distributors. Capturing the origins of an enterprise that continues to reach lucrative new heights most recently with the smash success of "Wicked" this audio book is a lively tour of a fascinating era and its most intriguing storyteller."