The Complete Wizard of Oz Collection: Volume I

The book has a bright and joyous atmosphere and does not dwell upon killing and deeds of violence. Enough stirring adventure enters into it however to flavor it with zest ...It will indeed be strange if there be a normal child who will not enjoy the story.An original departure in childrens literature in every way novel and unique. ... The text is charming and will prove interesting to both young and old. ... - The New York Times 1900. The Wonderful Wizard of Oz has become Americas greatest and best-loved homegrown fairy tale. The first totally American fantasy for children it is one of the most-read childrens books. - Library of Congress.The Oz books are far ahead of their time both scientifically and politically. They are full of inventions that would not appear on the market for most of the century among them a robot man an artificial heart and limbs a television monitoring system anti-gravity devices and a computer-type news service. - Alison Lurie.I have learned to regard fame as a will-o-the-wisp which when caught is not worth the possession; but to please a child is a sweet and lovely thing that warms ones heart and brings its own reward. - L. Frank Baum.The Wonderful Wizard of Oz is an enchanting tale of adventure and self-discovery in a magical country. It is Americas first and greatest fairy tale and is one of the most-read childrens books. Its unforgettable characters and memorable adventures made it an instant classic so much so that Baum wrote another thirteen books in the series. This is the first volume of a two-volume collection of all fourteen books and it will be a delight to any lover of the wonderful land of Oz.Features of this edition: Contains the first seven books in the Oz series: The Wonderful Wizard of Oz The Marvelous Land of Oz Ozma of Oz Dorothy and the Wizard in Oz The Road to Oz The Emerald City of Oz and The Patchwork Girl of Oz.The text is set in a well-spaced crisp large modern 11-point font that children and grandparents will find easy to read.Each book contains the authors introduction.Frank Baum (1856-1919) was an American writer best-known for The Wonderful Wizard of Oz. He wrote another thirteen books in the Oz series and over fifty-five novels. Baum wrote The Wonderful Wizard of Oz after failures as an actor and proprietor of successively a theater a general store a newspaper and a trade magazine. Baum aimed to create an Americanized fairy tale in his Oz books like Grimms and Andersens but in which the wonderment and joy are retained and the heartaches and nightmares are left out.