The Annotated Wizard of Oz (Centennial Edition)

There's a hundred-page introduction, with lots of photos and color illustrations, covering Baum's life, his family, his non-Oz books, and the history of the Oz phenomenon (books, plays, musicals, movies, other Oz authors, and much more).

The story itself is reproduced from the 1900 edition. W.W. Denslow's original illustrations, including all 24 color plates, are here too. Hearn's notes are entertaining, informative and very extensive. For example, there are three double-columned pages dealing with Baum's brief one-page introduction alone!

Anyone who loves the Oz books will find countless hours of pleasure in this delightful book. It's well worth the price!


A CLASSIC ABOUT A CLASSIC!   November 23, 2000
Barbara Seaman (New York, NY USA)
26 out of 26 found this review helpful

This is THE book to honor the centennial of Oz. Everyone in my family - from my 4-year-old grandson to my 89-year old mother is crazy about it. It has everything you ever wanted to know about OZ and more. But seriously, Hearn is the world's leading authority on Baum and his work. (If you saw the delightful TV movie DREAMER OF OZ - it was based on Hearn's work in progress.)

The story behind this book is fascinating in itself. Hearn wrote it while an undergraduate at Bard College, finishing it at age 21; and, with the blessing of Martin Gardner, author of THE ANNOTATED ALICE, Hearn's book was published in 1973 when Hearn was but 23. In the ensuing decades, Hearn has never ceased researching and uncovering more and more incredible Ozzy facts and folklore. All who love Oz will find their appreciation of both the book and the famous movie increased 100-fold (seriously!) by this amazing investigative work. The reader will learn not only all there is to know about Oz, but will also be greatly enriched by the historical and cultural contexts in which Hearn places Baum's work. It is a glorious volume with all of the original illustrations by W. W. Denslow in their original colors, plus many other rare and previously unknown pictures.


If it's not in here, it's not worth knowing!   January 10, 2001
Tanja L. Edwards (Norman, OK USA)
12 out of 12 found this review helpful

"The Wizard of Oz" and its sequels were books that I enjoyed in childhood, but had largely forgotten about as an adult. No more! This book recaptured my interest in Oz for good. You know this book is thick with information when the introduction runs over 100 pages, and the first page of the Oz story is accompanied by six pages of annotations! I learned so much about Baum, Denslow, and the psycho-social and political aspects of Oz from this book (as well as what politics are NOT involved!). This is not a book for children, but for those who can go back to their childhood down the Yellow Brick Road.


A Benchmark for the Wizard of Oz by Michael Patrick Hearn   December 8, 2000
Donna Stewart-Hardway (Elkview, WV United States)
11 out of 11 found this review helpful

Twenty-seven years ago, in 1973, Michael Hearn's first publication of The Annotated Wizard of Oz was released. This past year was my first experience with Michael Hearn's contribution to L. Frank Baum's Oz in his first volume. I had already read Hearn's The Annotated Christmas Carol, by Charles Dickens and found I was very impressed by his work.

I completed the 1973 volume about 8 months before the release of the new Centennial Edition. Coming from my Oz film orientation my familiarity with Frank Baum's books was negligible. At one point in private school, as an elementary school student, my teacher who was probably familiar with my Oz film experience gave me the book Wizard of Oz to read. I felt later that she wanted me to know that the MGM film was not the real Wizard of Oz. After reading the book, I was sure that the book must be wrong, as it was not like the film.

I, like many other people, believed for years that the film was what made Frank Baum's books quite famous. This point being erroneous is made quite clear by Michael Hearn's commentary on the matter. I have happily given up my allusion for the actual facts of the matter.

I could take up the torch and go on and on about the fact that Frank Baum was a genius when it came to the children's books he wrote in his life time. He did take children's literature in a new direction away from a kind of formula writing that for years had dominated children's literature. He also brought about not only entertainment but also a thought provoking kind of fairy tale not inane in its nature. He created a cast of characters with all the qualities we see in ourselves and our friends with the ability to overcome problems and learn that life's entire quest has viable answers if we look for them. It is almost like meeting an alien from a society who has the same characteristics we do and the only basic difference is appearance. For the first time America had it's own writer of children's stories that surpassed anything that had thus far been written for young people.

It is very difficult to single out any one part of Michael Patrick Hearn's new book as the crown or epitome of this scholarly work. What I can tell you is that with this newest book, I have found a new appreciation for all concerned. In particular, Mr. Hearn faced no small task to write so extensively about others, the Wizard of Oz, L. Frank Baum, and even W. W. Denslow, and yet not negate through intrusion into that which he wrote.

This book has taken me to another dimension of understanding at a deeper level. What a wonderful feeling it is to be able have another human so understood that they become a part of who you are. That comradeship that exists between good friends for a lifetime of pleasure and depth of understanding is indeed a rare possession. On the aesthetics of this book, the appearance is a vast improvement over the previous volume. The beautiful colors and Denslow's illustrations are a real plus for the book. I like the new shape and size of the book. It actually fits on my bookshelf without being obtrusive. I now can see the beautiful spine of the book as it sits on its appointed shelf. This is a wonderful book and I think in general it should be required reading for every student of the world regardless of age and every Ozoholic in particular.


We're off to Believe in the Wizard   December 9, 2000
James Hiller (Beaverton, OR)
19 out of 22 found this review helpful

Michael Patrick Hearn really has done a grand service to the American literary world. While the book Wizard of Oz in itself will be a classic of all time, Hearn's annotations breathes life into this book like nothing else I've ever read.

His exhaustive, extensive research illuminates this classic, and brings us into the life of L. Frank Baum in connection with his writing of this story. I also loved the reproductions of the the original color plates from the first printing, which Baum painstakingly wanted.

As a true devotee of the film, and a casual devotee of the book, I now considered myself converted and find joy equally in both, due to the reading of this new classic.

Take advantage of this low price while you can still get it!