- Hardcover: 320 pages
- Publisher: University Press of Kansas; illustrated edition edition (May 1997)
- Language English
- ISBN-10: 070060832X
- ISBN-13: 978-0700608324
- Product Dimensions: 23.2 x 16.7 x 2.8 cm
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 4,955,392 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
| |||||||||||||||
Did you know you can trade in your old books for an Amazon.co.uk Gift Card to spend on the things you want? Plus, get an extra £5 Gift Certificate when you trade in books worth £10 or more before June 30, 2012. Visit the Books Trade-In Store for more details. |
Product details |
More About the Author
Product Description
Product Description
Long before Judy Garland sang "Over the Rainbow", the denizens of Oz had already captivated the American reading public. The quintessential American fairy tale, L. Frank Baum's "The Wonderful Wizard of Oz" has had a singular influence on our culture since it first appeared in 1900. Yet, as Michael Riley shows, Baum's achievement went far beyond this one book, or even the 13 others he wrote about that magic kingdom. The Land of Oz was just one in a whole continent of fantasy countries whose histories, geographies and citizens Baum developed in detail over the course of his writing career. In this "Other-world", Baum created a full-scale mythology that foreshadowed Tolkien's Middle Earth in its imaginative detail. Taking us on an entertaining tour of this endearing and unforgettable Other-world, Riley illuminates Baums's richly creative imagination in the Oz books and other works of fantasy, like the much neglected "Life and Adventures of Santa Claus". He restores for many readers Baum's original conception of Oz as it existed long before other writers were hired to continue the immensely popular series following Baum's death in 1919. Equally important, he shows us how Oz and its companion countries evolved over time, as Baum repeatedly responded to a loyal readership clamouring for an endless supply of Oz stories. While there have been other studies of Baum, this is the one that examines his Other-world in its entirety. "Oz and Beyond" provides a comprehensive analysis of all of Baum's fantasy creations and his evolution as a fantasy writer, demonstrating that Baum had a more consistent and disciplined imagination than is generally recognized. It also explains the influence of Baum's childhood and adult experiences on his writing and illuminates his philosophy concerning nature, civilization and industrialization. Oz's enduring influence on American culture is indisputable - witness its endless replication in books, films, musicals and theme parks. In returning to the original source of that influence, Riley serves as our guide to that land over the rainbow and inspires renewed appreciation for a great writer's magical vision.
Inside This Book
(Learn More)
Browse and search another edition of this book.
Browse and search another edition of this book.
First Sentence
Read the first page Browse Sample Pages
Front Cover | Copyright | Table of Contents | Excerpt | Index | Back Cover
Read the first page Browse Sample Pages
Front Cover | Copyright | Table of Contents | Excerpt | Index | Back Cover
Tag this product(What's this?)Think of a tag as a keyword or label you consider is strongly related to this product.
Tags will help all customers organise and find favourite items. |
Sell a Digital Version of This Book in the Kindle Store
If you are a publisher or author and hold the digital rights to a book, you can sell a digital version of it in our Kindle Store.
Learn more
Customer Reviews
There are no customer reviews yet on Amazon.co.uk.
5 star
4 star
3 star
2 star
1 star
Most Helpful Customer Reviews on Amazon.com (beta)
Amazon.com:
1 review
9 of 10 people found the following review helpful
A wonderful insite to the mind
21 Mar 2000
Format:Hardcover
I'm a HUGE fan of Baum.Always have been. Ever since I was a kid. Reading Baum in published order is an ever ongoing project with me. Now I'm not one who wants to take apart the wonderful stories and put all the elements into little boxes and find out what they are make of, but this book does something that is just the opposite. It takes the stories and looks at them in the order in which they were written! This book is a wonderful look at the "periods" in the Baum Canon. This is a great look at how say something like the Life and Adventures of Santa Clause and Queen XiXi of IX relate to each other. Great writing and research makes this book a MUST for any Baum collector.
Was this review helpful?
Let us know
Customer Discussions
|
This product's forum
Active discussions in related forums
Search Customer Discussions
|
Related forums
|
Listmania!
Look for similar items by category
Look for similar items by subject
Feedback
- Would you like to update product info or give feedback on images?
- I am the Author, and I want to comment on my book.
- I am the Publisher, and I want to comment on this book.
