Lyman Frank Baum was born in 1856 in Chittenango in the state of New York. Educated mostly at home due to ill health, he was encouraged by his wealthy father to pursue his early interests in journalism and playwriting. He started his first magazine aged fifteen, had his own theatre at twenty-four and worked for many newspapers and periodicals before turning to children's fiction. The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, published in 1900, was his third bestselling book in as many years, and launched the hugely successful series of ‘Oz’ titles. Baum continued writing for the rest of his life and died in 1919 with over one hundred books to his name.

Lyman Frank Baum was born in 1856 in Chittenango in the state of New York. Educated mostly at home due to ill health, he was encouraged by his wealthy father to pursue his early interests in journalism and playwriting. He started his first magazine aged fifteen, had his own theatre at twenty-four and worked for many newspapers and periodicals before turning to children's fiction. The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, published in 1900, was his third bestselling book in as many years, and launched the hugely successful series of ‘Oz’ titles. Baum continued writing for the rest of his life and died in 1919 with over one hundred books to his name.