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Title details for The Real Wizard of Oz by Rebecca Loncraine - Available

The Real Wizard of Oz

The Life and Times of L. Frank Baum

by Rebecca Loncraine
Brooke Heldman
Audiobook
1 of 1 copy available
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1 of 1 copy available

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.

  • Creators

  • Publisher

  • Release date

    May 3, 2014

  • Formats

    • OverDrive Listen audiobook

      • ISBN: 9781621884057
      • File size: 333883 KB
      • Duration: 11:35:35

  • Languages

    • English

  • Reviews

    • AudioFile Magazine
      Brooke Heldman narrates this biography as if it were a fairy tale, and that's appropriate as THE WONDERFUL WIZARD OF OZ is considered an American fairy tale. The author shows how influences and incidents in the childhood of L. Frank Baum are reflected in his books. Heldman captures the author's sense of wonder for her subject and his work. She modulates her voice when quoting Baum directly, providing listeners with clear cues. During long passages of narrative, she adopts a more studied tone. The only weakness in the production comes from the book itself. The author makes several historical side trips, which slow down the story of Baum's life and add little but length. R.C.G. © AudioFile 2014, Portland, Maine
    • Publisher's Weekly

      September 29, 2014
      Heldman is a fine choice to narrate this well-researched biography on the life L. Frank Baum, author of The Wonderful Wizard of Oz and its sequels. Baum was born in 1865, and was 43 when he penned the book for which he would forever be remembered. But once he conceived of the land of Oz, he, unlike Dorothy, would never be able to escape it. Loncraine follows Baum through the middle years of his life, focusing on the specific events and experiences that influenced the magical world and creatures of Oz. The book is
      divided into five sections, corresponding to the five U.S. regions in which Baum lived, and reader Heldman skillfully keeps the story moving at a steady pace throughout. Her lively, breathy delivery animates Loncraine’s straightforward prose. Loncraine admits that much of what’s known of Baum’s life may be pure invention by the writer himself, but true or not, it keeps the listener enchanted to the last chapter. A Gotham paperback.

    • Publisher's Weekly

      August 17, 2009
      In this literary biography of a too-often overlooked pioneer of 20th century children's fiction, first-time author Loncraine examines the life and prolific career of Oz series creator L. Frank Baum. Divided into five sections, corresponding to the five U.S. regions in which he lived, U.K. journalist Loncraine seeks to enshrine Baum as America's Grimm Brother, as devoted to his native land as he is to his fantasy world. The most interesting sections cover his childhood in the Finger Lakes region of New York and his life as a storekeeper and newspaper publisher in the Great Plains. Loncraine's rich material includes the ideas and folktales populating each region-ghosts and mysticism, poverty and desire, and others-but, unfortunately, her determination to give equal attention to each area of Baum's life short-changes Baum's interpersonal relationships, as well as the ties between his life and his work. Too often, Loncraine notes these connections but fails to dig into them, including what may have been the most fascinating part of Baum's tale, his decades-long marriage to a suffragist who was in every way his equal. Though this biography should intrigue Oz fans, it's hardly the final word.

Formats

  • OverDrive Listen audiobook

subjects

Languages

  • English

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