Published posthumously in 1919, ‘The Magic of Oz’ is the thirteenth book in the Oz series by author L. Frank Baum. Familiar characters Dorothy, the Wizard and the Cowardly Lion reunite to find gifts for Princess Ozma’s birthday. Leaving the Emerald City behind, the friends soon find themselves in all sorts of scrapes as they meet new friends, get trapped on enchanted islands and uncover treacherous plots. Imaginative and exciting, this is a charming addition to the Oz 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.