L. Frank Baum’s The Wonderful Wizard of Oz first appeared in print in September 1900 and 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 color inserts.
