L Frank Baum

Lyman Frank Baum was born in New York on 15th May 1856. As a child, Baum was shy and was often schooled at home. He was also known to retreat into his father’s library, and spend hours reading his favourite books. At thirteen years old, Baum was entered into Peekskill Military School. He would soon leave when he found the atmosphere oppressive, and the daily exercises too much of a physical strain. He then resumed his interest in literature by studying creative writing. With the aid of his father (who had made a great deal of money in the oil business) he purchased a printing press. He used the press to develop his own newspaper, The Rose Lawn Home journal, and would write articles, poetry and editorials. By the time he had turned twenty-five years old, Baum had developed an interest in the theatrical arts. In New York City, he managed an opera house, wrote plays and would also act in his own play The Maid of Arran. After leaving theatre, Baum entered into a private business which failed, resumed editing on a newspaper called The Saturday Pioneer, and in 1882 he was married to a woman called Maud Gage. It was to be Maud’s mother who would guide Baum to success when she suggested he publish some of his nursery rhymes. Published in 1897 as Mother Goose in Prose, the collection was a huge success. In 1900 Baum published his most famous work, The Wonderful Wizard of Oz. The book was a phenomenal success and Baum now engaged himself in publishing a wide variety of works. At the time of his death in 1919, Baum had written no less than thirteen sequels to his first Oz book, and several other children’s books under various pseudonyms.

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