W. W. Denslow – illustratör

`The road to the City of Emeralds is paved with yellow brick,' said the Witch; `so you cannot miss it. When you get to Oz do not be afraid of him, but tell your story and ask him to help you.' A cyclone hits Kansas and whirls away Dorothy and her little dog Toto to the magical Land of Oz, where wild beasts talk, silver shoes have magic powers, and good witches offer protection with a kiss. But Dorothy has made an enemy of the Wicked Witch of the West. With her new friends the Scarecrow, the Tin Woodman, and the Cowardly Lion, they brave many dangers in search of the Wonderful Wizard in his Emerald City at the heart of Oz to ask him to grant each of them what they most desire - only to find that they already possess it. Published at the dawn of the twentieth century, The Wonderful Wizard of Oz (1900) immediately captivated child and adult readers alike. This new edition includes many of W. W. Denslow's original illustrations, and the introduction considers both the famous MGM film version and recent literary theory in a fascinating discussion of this children's classic. ABOUT THE SERIES: For over 100 years Oxford World's Classics has made available the widest range of literature from around the globe. Each affordable volume reflects Oxford's commitment to scholarship, providing the most accurate text plus a wealth of other valuable features, including expert introductions by leading authorities, helpful notes to clarify the text, up-to-date bibliographies for further study, and much more.

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"America's greatest and best-loved homegrown fairy tale ... one of the most-read children's books." - Library of Congress.

"The book has a bright and joyous atmosphere. It will indeed be strange if there be a normal child who will not enjoy the story."

" The funniest - the handsomest - the most elaborate child's book ever published." - The New York Times, 1900.

"to please a child is a sweet and lovely thing that warms one's 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 America's first and greatest fairy tale and is one of the most-read children's books. Its unforgettable characters and memorable adventures made it an instant classic.

This edition contains all the original color illustrations. Denslow's imagination has given us the familiar and beloved visual world of The Wonderful Wizard of Oz.

Frank Baum (1856-1919) was an American children's writer. He is best-known for The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, though he wrote another thirteen books in the Oz series and over fifty-five novels. Baum aimed to create an Americanized fairy tale, like Grimms' and Andersen's "in which the wonderment and joy are retained and the heartaches and nightmares are left out."

Features of this hardback edition:

It contains all 148 of W. W. Denslow's color illustrations, that are essential to a true appreciation of this book, which is the creation of both author and illustrator.Almost every page has a color illustration.The text is set in a crisp large modern 12 point font that children and grandparents will find easy to read.It contains the author's introduction.

The Wonderful Wizard of Oz is the quintessential American fairy tale. Michael Patrick Hearn, the world's leading Oz scholar, now provides a fascinating new annotation that not only reacquaints readers with the Tin Woodman, Scarecrow, and Cowardly Lion, but also illuminates the colorful background of this treasured American classic. This edition explores numerous contemporary references, provides character sources, and explains the actual meaning of the word "Oz." A facsimile of the rare 1900 first edition appears with the original drawings by W.W. Denslow, as well as 25 previously unpublished illustrations. There is a bibliography of L. Frank Baum's published work, every notable "Oz" edition, and the stage and cinematic productions from 1939's The Wizard of Oz, to the 1974 Broadway hit, The Wiz. A beautiful, awe-inspiring work, The Annotated Wizard of Oz is an enduring tribute to the timeless joy of The Wizard of Oz, and a classic to rival Baum's own.