L. Frank Baum (1856-1919) was an American author, playwright, and independent filmmaker best known for his children's books, particularly The Wonderful Wizard of Oz. He wrote fourteen novels in the Oz series, as well as nine other fantasy novels, fifty-three short stories, over 200 poems, and numerous other works. Baum was born in Chittenango, New York, and grew up in a rural area. He was educated at Peekskill Military Academy and Syracuse University. After college, he worked as a traveling salesman, a newspaper editor, and a theater manager. Baum's first book, Mother Goose in Prose, was published in 1897. His first Oz book, The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, was published in 1900 and became an instant success. He wrote thirteen more Oz books, as well as other fantasy novels, short stories, and plays. Baum was a pioneer in the use of multimedia to promote his works. He wrote scripts for silent films, and he and his wife, Maud Gage Baum, produced a series of Oz films. He also wrote a musical, The Tik-Tok Man of Oz, which was performed in Chicago in 1913. Baum died in 1919, but his legacy lives on. The Wonderful Wizard of Oz has been adapted into numerous films, plays, and musicals, and his books continue to be read and enjoyed by children and adults alike.
151 works on Textopian