The ninth in the ‘Aunt Jane’ series of novels by L. Frank Baum, we re-join Elizabeth and Patsy still in California with their Uncle John, to be close to their cousin Louise and her new baby Jane. One day while relaxing on the beach, the girls and new friend Maud spot a young man in difficulties in the water. The girls hurry to help, and when the man comes to their hotel to thank them the following day, he agrees to finance their project to produce films specifically for children. All is not as it seems however, and the young women get caught up in an international mystery surrounding the young man. Along the way the story details the ins and outs of the burgeoning Hollywood movie industry, in this fascinating and gripping instalment in the popular series.
Lyman Frank Baum (1856 – 1919) was a prolific and well-known American writer. He is best known for his famous series of modern fairy tales set in the imaginary land of Oz. The first of the books, ‘The Wonderful Wizard of Oz’ is widely considered to be the first true American fairy tale and was the basis for the hugely popular 1939 classic musical ‘The Wizard of Oz’ starring Judy Garland. Born and raised in New York, Baum held a range of jobs including as a poultry farmer, clerk, and storekeeper before pursuing his talent for writing at the age of 41. He wrote 14 novels in the Oz series, as well as over 40 other novels and over 80 short stories. He died in California in 1919.