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Finding Dorothy
A richly imagined novel that tells the story behind
The Wonderful Wizard of Oz
, the book that inspired the iconic film, through the eyes of author L. Frank Baum's intrepid wife, Maud--from the family's hardscrabble days in South Dakota to the Hollywood film set where she first meets Judy Garland.
Maud Gage Baum, widow of the author of the book The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, met Judy Garland, the young actress playing the role of Dorothy on the set of The Wizard of Oz in 1939. At the time, Maud was seventy-eight and Judy was sixteen. In spite of their age difference, Maud immediately connected to Judy--especially when Maud heard her sing "Over the Rainbow," a song whose yearning brought to mind the tough years in South Dakota when Maud and her husband struggled to make a living--until Frank Baum's book became a national sensation.
This wonderfully evocative two-stranded story recreates Maud's youth as the rebellious daughter of a leading suffragette, and the prairie years of Maud and Frank's early days when they lived among the people--especially young Dorothy--who would inspire Frank's masterpiece. Woven into this past story is one set in 1939, describing the high-pressured days on The Wizard of Oz film set where Judy is being badgered by the director, producer, and her ambitious stage mother to lose weight, bind her breasts, and laugh, cry, and act terrified on command. As Maud had promised to protect the original Dorothy back in Aberdeen, she now takes on the job of protecting young Judy.
Maud Gage Baum, widow of the author of the book The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, met Judy Garland, the young actress playing the role of Dorothy on the set of The Wizard of Oz in 1939. At the time, Maud was seventy-eight and Judy was sixteen. In spite of their age difference, Maud immediately connected to Judy--especially when Maud heard her sing "Over the Rainbow," a song whose yearning brought to mind the tough years in South Dakota when Maud and her husband struggled to make a living--until Frank Baum's book became a national sensation.
This wonderfully evocative two-stranded story recreates Maud's youth as the rebellious daughter of a leading suffragette, and the prairie years of Maud and Frank's early days when they lived among the people--especially young Dorothy--who would inspire Frank's masterpiece. Woven into this past story is one set in 1939, describing the high-pressured days on The Wizard of Oz film set where Judy is being badgered by the director, producer, and her ambitious stage mother to lose weight, bind her breasts, and laugh, cry, and act terrified on command. As Maud had promised to protect the original Dorothy back in Aberdeen, she now takes on the job of protecting young Judy.
351 pages, Hardcover
First published February 12, 2019
3139 people are currently reading
52417 people want to read
About the author
Elizabeth Letts
14 books1,084 followersELIZABETH LETTS is an award winning and bestselling author of both fiction and non-fiction. The Perfect Horse was the winner of the 2017 PEN USA Award for Research Non-fiction and a #1 Wall Street Journal bestseller. The Eighty-Dollar Champion was a #1 New York Times bestseller and winner of the 2012 Daniel P Lenehan Award for Media Excellence from the United States Equestrian Foundation. She is also the author of two novels, Quality of Care and Family Planning, and an award-winning children's book, The Butter Man. She lives in Southern California and Northern Michigan.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 5,290 reviews
February 1, 2019
3.5 stars rounded up.
“ The Wizard of Oz “ has been one of my favorite movies for more years than I’m willing to admit. I’ve seen it so many times that I can recite a lot of the dialogue by heart. I have to admit, though, that I have never read the book and having read this novel makes me want to read it. If I had read the book, I would have known that the ruby slippers weren’t red and that Oz is not emerald green, among other things. I just knew that this book would evoke nostalgic feelings and it did. It also brings to light some of things that happened behind the scenes during the filming of the movie and brings us the back story of L. Frank Baum. But this really in so many ways is the story of his wife Maud Gage Baum.
Through Maud’s story, we come to know the origin of the book, and the personal lives of the Baums in a dual time line narrative from Maud’s early life starting in 1871 to the Hollywood of 1939. It was so interesting to see the behind the scenes story of the movie, but so sad to see the workings of the Hollywood machine and how Judy Garland was treated at age 15. She was given pills to help her lose weight, pills to help her sleep, 80 cigarettes a day to help with her diet, slapped in the face when she couldn’t stop giggling during a scene with the Cowardly Lion. So sad, as we know what eventually happens with Judy Garland with addiction. The manipulation and abuse of a young girl, illustrates the lengths that the studio executives would go to insure success. Though Maud’s role here may be the most fictionalized part, I loved her tenacity and perseverance in trying to insure that the movie reflected her husband’s vision and her desire to take care of Judy Garland. I have to say that the part of the book that I found most engaging was the making of the movie, although Maud’s earlier life lays the groundwork for the toughness she exhibits in 1939.
I always enjoy knowing the seed for a story, what prompted the author to write a particular story. Loved reading in the afterward, how seeing the movie for the first time at 4 years old ignited her love and connection to Dorothy and then reading it to her son made her wonder about Baum. Seeing a photograph of Maud Baum and Judy Garland taken in 1939 is when she says “I realized I had found a story.” This appears to be very well researched, and while Letts says she altered some dates and names, she says “most of my story is based on known historical fact”, consulting “biographies and diaries, letters and photographs.” Recommended to others who loved the book or movie as I still do.
I received an advanced copy of this book from Ballantine Books through NetGalley.
“ The Wizard of Oz “ has been one of my favorite movies for more years than I’m willing to admit. I’ve seen it so many times that I can recite a lot of the dialogue by heart. I have to admit, though, that I have never read the book and having read this novel makes me want to read it. If I had read the book, I would have known that the ruby slippers weren’t red and that Oz is not emerald green, among other things. I just knew that this book would evoke nostalgic feelings and it did. It also brings to light some of things that happened behind the scenes during the filming of the movie and brings us the back story of L. Frank Baum. But this really in so many ways is the story of his wife Maud Gage Baum.
Through Maud’s story, we come to know the origin of the book, and the personal lives of the Baums in a dual time line narrative from Maud’s early life starting in 1871 to the Hollywood of 1939. It was so interesting to see the behind the scenes story of the movie, but so sad to see the workings of the Hollywood machine and how Judy Garland was treated at age 15. She was given pills to help her lose weight, pills to help her sleep, 80 cigarettes a day to help with her diet, slapped in the face when she couldn’t stop giggling during a scene with the Cowardly Lion. So sad, as we know what eventually happens with Judy Garland with addiction. The manipulation and abuse of a young girl, illustrates the lengths that the studio executives would go to insure success. Though Maud’s role here may be the most fictionalized part, I loved her tenacity and perseverance in trying to insure that the movie reflected her husband’s vision and her desire to take care of Judy Garland. I have to say that the part of the book that I found most engaging was the making of the movie, although Maud’s earlier life lays the groundwork for the toughness she exhibits in 1939.
I always enjoy knowing the seed for a story, what prompted the author to write a particular story. Loved reading in the afterward, how seeing the movie for the first time at 4 years old ignited her love and connection to Dorothy and then reading it to her son made her wonder about Baum. Seeing a photograph of Maud Baum and Judy Garland taken in 1939 is when she says “I realized I had found a story.” This appears to be very well researched, and while Letts says she altered some dates and names, she says “most of my story is based on known historical fact”, consulting “biographies and diaries, letters and photographs.” Recommended to others who loved the book or movie as I still do.
I received an advanced copy of this book from Ballantine Books through NetGalley.
May 22, 2019
***NOW AVAILABLE--I FIND MYSELF TELLING EVERYONE ABOUT THIS BOOK***
My 2019 year of reading is off to a wonderful start partly because of this wonderful book! This is such an original story that I couldn’t wait to start reading and I was not disappointed. The fact that I've watched this movie over a dozen times improved my experience because when Maud, our main character, is talking about the scenes that were being filmed, I could remember each and every one of them.
From the blurb you know that this novel is written from the point of view of Maud Gage Baum, wife of L. Frank Baum, the author of The Wizard of Oz. There are two time frames, one starting in the 1870’s when Maud and Frank are young, married, very poor and raising their family of four boys. The other time frame takes place during the taping of the movie around 1939.
Maud was the daughter of a Matilda Gage a leading voice for women’s rights, Susan B Anthony and Elizabeth Stanton were frequent visitors in their home. Matilda wanted her daughter to be independent, well educated and have a life of her own continuing to carry out her mother’s work for women’s rights. When Maud was introduced to Frank by her college roommate they quickly fell in love. Matilda was so upset with Maud marrying a “theater man” (actor) that she never spoke to her again after their marriage.
Maud and Frank started their marriage living in Dakota starting various start up businesses that never seemed to take off. One, a fantastical sounding children’s toy store, was said to contain just about any toy that a child could wish for. The store did well for some time but when the town fell on hard times Frank was forced to sell the store and go to work as a salesman. Maud took in sewing to keep a home for the boys and food on the table.
During this time she tried to help her sister Julia who had married a hard headed and perhaps abusive husband. She lived quite far away but they did visit occasionally and Maud was in charmed and in love with her little niece, who is quite probably Frank’s inspiration for Dorothy, right down to the blue gingham dress that Maud sewed for her. Throughout all of their hard times Frank always found ways to make things “magical” for his children with his wit and imaginative play interactions.
The second time line takes place during the filming of the movie where Maud tries to keep the leaders of MGM to keep true to her husband’s story. She befriends Judy Garland whom she quickly sees is being treated terribly. Her mother along with the director keep Judy on diet pills so that she won’t grow out of the part since she is reaching puberty. She is also encouraged to smoke cigarettes to tame her hunger and was even slapped in the face when she couldn’t stop laughing in a part of the filming. I already knew where this beginning addiction led the singer/actress and was ashamed that it was her mother who encouraged this behavior.
I did feel a connection to Maud, I liked her ability to always find “the silver lining” and make the most of what the family had to stay happy. Later I loved her strength and tenacity to try to help Judy through the tough times during filming. It was interesting learning so many things about the original Wizard of Oz. Frank never wanted anything to scare children in his books and there was no wicked witch in his story. Oz was supposed to be a wonderland that children could escape to when things were sad or difficult for them. Of note is the fact that the studio almost cut Over the Rainbow because they thought it was too long! There is much to discover in this book.
I encourage everyone to read this book and if by chance you have never watched the movie, please do so, it is a treasured movie icon.
I received an ARC of this novel from the publishers through NetGalley. The book is set to publish February 12, 2019.
My 2019 year of reading is off to a wonderful start partly because of this wonderful book! This is such an original story that I couldn’t wait to start reading and I was not disappointed. The fact that I've watched this movie over a dozen times improved my experience because when Maud, our main character, is talking about the scenes that were being filmed, I could remember each and every one of them.
From the blurb you know that this novel is written from the point of view of Maud Gage Baum, wife of L. Frank Baum, the author of The Wizard of Oz. There are two time frames, one starting in the 1870’s when Maud and Frank are young, married, very poor and raising their family of four boys. The other time frame takes place during the taping of the movie around 1939.
Maud was the daughter of a Matilda Gage a leading voice for women’s rights, Susan B Anthony and Elizabeth Stanton were frequent visitors in their home. Matilda wanted her daughter to be independent, well educated and have a life of her own continuing to carry out her mother’s work for women’s rights. When Maud was introduced to Frank by her college roommate they quickly fell in love. Matilda was so upset with Maud marrying a “theater man” (actor) that she never spoke to her again after their marriage.
Maud and Frank started their marriage living in Dakota starting various start up businesses that never seemed to take off. One, a fantastical sounding children’s toy store, was said to contain just about any toy that a child could wish for. The store did well for some time but when the town fell on hard times Frank was forced to sell the store and go to work as a salesman. Maud took in sewing to keep a home for the boys and food on the table.
During this time she tried to help her sister Julia who had married a hard headed and perhaps abusive husband. She lived quite far away but they did visit occasionally and Maud was in charmed and in love with her little niece, who is quite probably Frank’s inspiration for Dorothy, right down to the blue gingham dress that Maud sewed for her. Throughout all of their hard times Frank always found ways to make things “magical” for his children with his wit and imaginative play interactions.
The second time line takes place during the filming of the movie where Maud tries to keep the leaders of MGM to keep true to her husband’s story. She befriends Judy Garland whom she quickly sees is being treated terribly. Her mother along with the director keep Judy on diet pills so that she won’t grow out of the part since she is reaching puberty. She is also encouraged to smoke cigarettes to tame her hunger and was even slapped in the face when she couldn’t stop laughing in a part of the filming. I already knew where this beginning addiction led the singer/actress and was ashamed that it was her mother who encouraged this behavior.
I did feel a connection to Maud, I liked her ability to always find “the silver lining” and make the most of what the family had to stay happy. Later I loved her strength and tenacity to try to help Judy through the tough times during filming. It was interesting learning so many things about the original Wizard of Oz. Frank never wanted anything to scare children in his books and there was no wicked witch in his story. Oz was supposed to be a wonderland that children could escape to when things were sad or difficult for them. Of note is the fact that the studio almost cut Over the Rainbow because they thought it was too long! There is much to discover in this book.
I encourage everyone to read this book and if by chance you have never watched the movie, please do so, it is a treasured movie icon.
I received an ARC of this novel from the publishers through NetGalley. The book is set to publish February 12, 2019.
February 2, 2019
"Now, almost twenty years after her husband's death, many people didn't recognize his name, but was there anyone, big or small, who didn't know Dorothy and the Scarecrow, the tin man and the Lion?"
Who hasn't seen the Wizard of Oz? Anyone? I know that I still watch it at least once a year! Finding Dorothy tells the story of the making of The Wizard of Oz and the story of Maud Gage Baum (the widow of the Author) and her life with her husband, Frank Baum (L. Frank Baum). The Struggles they faced during their marriage, their love, and Frank's writing of The Wonderful Wizard of Oz.
This book is told in two time-lines - Maud and Frank's life together and later when Maud goes to Hollywood and is on set and strikes up a relationship with Judy Garland during the filming of The Wizard of Oz. I learned many interesting facts while reading this book - the ruby red shoes I coveted as a child, were not meant to be red, Emerald City was not green, they almost cut "Somewhere over the Rainbow" out of the movie and that Judy Garland was slapped, forced to go every other day without food, had to smoke 80 cigarettes a day and took pills to suppress her appetite and then those to help her sleep. Judy won an Academy Award for her performance and walked away with a drug problem.
Maud was a formidable woman and stood up for Garland and became friends with her. Through the course of the filming, when not sticking up for Garland, she was fighting with producers to keep true to her husband's work. She was spunky and not afraid to speak her mind and speak up when she saw something which wasn't right. She was, after-all, the daughter of a famous women's suffrage and feminist activist.
This started a little slow for me and I found myself picking up other books, but then it hooked me! I appreciated the dual timelines and learning about Maud's earlier life. It is a shame that L. Frank Baum never lived to see his work made into a movie. A former actor and theater man, I imagine he would have been proud of the movie and of his wife for becoming involved and being there during the filming.
I am finding that I am enjoying reading the Afterword of books more and more and this book was no exception. The Author tells how as a young girl she wanted to be like Dorothy “...one who could stare down a lion, melt a witch, tame a wizard." She also shares more history on Frank and Maud Baum and her quest to learn more about the movie and her motivation to write this book.
This is an enjoyable book that I am sure fans of the movie (and the book) will enjoy. I learned a lot and it was fun to see place I know, and have been to, talked about in this book.
I appreciated how the Author took real people and used real events and facts from their lives to write this book. This is a book that has heart and is a lovely tribute to an iconic and well-loved movie and the story behind the movie. The Story of how the book came to be, the story of a man who dreamed of a better place, full of interesting characters. This is the story of dreamers, of actors, of writers, of couples, of family and of Oz.
Thank you to Random House Publishing Group- Ballantine and NetGalley who provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. The thoughts and opinions are my own.
Who hasn't seen the Wizard of Oz? Anyone? I know that I still watch it at least once a year! Finding Dorothy tells the story of the making of The Wizard of Oz and the story of Maud Gage Baum (the widow of the Author) and her life with her husband, Frank Baum (L. Frank Baum). The Struggles they faced during their marriage, their love, and Frank's writing of The Wonderful Wizard of Oz.
This book is told in two time-lines - Maud and Frank's life together and later when Maud goes to Hollywood and is on set and strikes up a relationship with Judy Garland during the filming of The Wizard of Oz. I learned many interesting facts while reading this book - the ruby red shoes I coveted as a child, were not meant to be red, Emerald City was not green, they almost cut "Somewhere over the Rainbow" out of the movie and that Judy Garland was slapped, forced to go every other day without food, had to smoke 80 cigarettes a day and took pills to suppress her appetite and then those to help her sleep. Judy won an Academy Award for her performance and walked away with a drug problem.
Maud was a formidable woman and stood up for Garland and became friends with her. Through the course of the filming, when not sticking up for Garland, she was fighting with producers to keep true to her husband's work. She was spunky and not afraid to speak her mind and speak up when she saw something which wasn't right. She was, after-all, the daughter of a famous women's suffrage and feminist activist.
This started a little slow for me and I found myself picking up other books, but then it hooked me! I appreciated the dual timelines and learning about Maud's earlier life. It is a shame that L. Frank Baum never lived to see his work made into a movie. A former actor and theater man, I imagine he would have been proud of the movie and of his wife for becoming involved and being there during the filming.
I am finding that I am enjoying reading the Afterword of books more and more and this book was no exception. The Author tells how as a young girl she wanted to be like Dorothy “...one who could stare down a lion, melt a witch, tame a wizard." She also shares more history on Frank and Maud Baum and her quest to learn more about the movie and her motivation to write this book.
This is an enjoyable book that I am sure fans of the movie (and the book) will enjoy. I learned a lot and it was fun to see place I know, and have been to, talked about in this book.
I appreciated how the Author took real people and used real events and facts from their lives to write this book. This is a book that has heart and is a lovely tribute to an iconic and well-loved movie and the story behind the movie. The Story of how the book came to be, the story of a man who dreamed of a better place, full of interesting characters. This is the story of dreamers, of actors, of writers, of couples, of family and of Oz.
Thank you to Random House Publishing Group- Ballantine and NetGalley who provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. The thoughts and opinions are my own.
May 22, 2019
Finding Dorothy by Elizabeth Letts is a 2019 Ballantine Books publication.
A different and captivating perspective on the magical,’ Wonderful Wizard of Oz’, L. Frank Baum, and his exceptional partner in life- the irrepressible Maud Baum!!
I had no idea what to expect when I began reading this book, but I must say it was surprising. For the most part this is a fictionalized account of Maud Baum’s life. However, the story alternates between Maud’s background and the Wizard of Oz movie set in 1939, where Maud has appointed herself the protector and overseer of Frank’s beloved characters. However, once ensconced in the studio, it is Judy Garland she feels the most protective of.
I often explain that when I start writing a book review, all I’m really doing is thinking out loud and rambling. This book had my mind wandering all over the place, so this review is bound to skip from one random thought to another.
Two things about the movie, and Judy Garland, were on my mind while reading this book. One was a fascinating article about a pair of stolen ruby slippers used in The Wizard of Oz film, which was featured in the Washington Post.
https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/....
The other thing was that after seeing Rene Zellweger’s movie trailer, I was reminded of the tragic turn Judy’s life took in her later years. This weighed on my mind while I read portions of this book, describing the abuse Judy was subjected to during the filming of the movie. I’m looking forward to seeing Rene’s performance, though.
But as to my thoughts about this novel-
I found Maud’s character to be an interesting one. She is definitely her mother’s daughter in many ways. She absorbed more of her mother’s lessons than her sister did and practiced what she preached in an era of time when such behavior was unheard of. Yet, when it came to Frank… well, he wasn’t what her mother had in mind for Maud, but despite his obvious flaws, the two were a passionate couple, despite having opposite temperaments. While many misconstrue the meaning of ‘Happily Ever After’, this couple did, despite everything, enjoy a long- lasting love story.
( On the night of Frank's death on May 16, 1919, Maud imparted in a letter to her relatives, Helen Leslie and Leslie Gage: He told me many times I was the only one he had ever loved. He hated to die, did not want to leave me, said he was never happy without me, but it was better he should go first, if it had to be, for I doubt if he could have got along without me. It is all so sad, and I am so forlorn and alone. For nearly thirty-seven years we had been everything to each other, we were happy, and now I am alone, to face the world alone.)
Maud did not live a charmed life by any means, but I was fascinated by her life experiences and loved Lett’s version of events which gives the reader a few insights on where Frank found his inspiration for his book characters and stories.
The segments where Maud forces herself onto the Wizard of Oz studio set may seem a bit more dubious, but the author manages to juxtapose the magical quality of the picture with the darker realities of Judy Garland’s life as a young actress at the mercy of a monstrous stage mother, sexual harassment, and the pressure to stay thin and childlike.
The story is often very bleak, as good times, contentment, and joy are rare occurrences. There were times when I felt I needed a little break from reading this book, as a result. Not only was it a bit depressing, it was also slow moving at times, and I felt some segments could have been shortened. However, I am glad I stuck it out, as it did give me a lot to feel thankful for and an appreciation or the hardships many endured during this time period, especially women.
However, one thing the author manages to translate in the midst of all the hardships and trials, is that despite the constant difficulties in Maud’s life, and the sinister aspects of Hollywood, it is healthy, no matter what your age, to believe in a little magic sometimes. Indulging in a little make believe or fantasy can be cathartic. Frank’s stories were a gift and he intended them to bring joy and pleasure, which they did, for children and adults alike.
In an age where the bar is set high for authors to create books and write stories which are realistic, girding their creative license and stripping them of the right to simply make up a town, country, or even a name of a restaurant,or take liberties of any kind, insert the improbable or implausible for effect, this story slams home the danger of binding creativity and imagination or shaming those who like to indulge in fairytale romances, folklore, or fantasy of any kind. When did encouraging the freedom to dream or fantasize become a cardinal sin?
“Folklore, legends, myths and fairy tales have followed childhood through the ages, for every healthy youngster has a wholesome and instinctive love for stories fantastic, marvelous and manifestly unreal. The winged fairies of Grimm and Andersen have brought more happiness to childish hearts than all other human creations.
Yet the old time fairy tale, having served for generations, may now be classed as “historical” in the children’s library; for the time has come for a series of newer “wonder tales” in which the stereotyped genie, dwarf and fairy are eliminated, together with all the horrible and blood-curdling incidents devised by their authors to point a fearsome moral to each tale. Modern education includes morality; therefore the modern child seeks only entertainment in its wonder tales and gladly dispenses with all disagreeable incident.
Having this thought in mind, the story of “The Wonderful Wizard of Oz” was written solely to please children of today. It aspires to being a modernized fairy tale, in which the wonderment and joy are retained and the heartaches and nightmares are left out.”
L. Frank Baum
Chicago, April, 1900.
Elizabeth Letts reminds us to simply allow ourselves to sit back and enjoy a good story, and let our imaginations roam freely, without feeling guilty for having indulged in something outside the realm of reality for just a little while. Sure, Maud may have lost faith a time or two, but she knew Frank’s stories were a gift - and that gift keeps on giving, even today.
So, go ahead- dream a little dream, believe in love, believe in magic, and dare to hope.
“Magic isn’t things materializing out of nowhere. Magic is when a lot of people all believe in the same thing at the same time, and somehow we all escape ourselves a little bit and we meet up somewhere, and just a moment, we taste the sublime.”
4 stars
A different and captivating perspective on the magical,’ Wonderful Wizard of Oz’, L. Frank Baum, and his exceptional partner in life- the irrepressible Maud Baum!!
I had no idea what to expect when I began reading this book, but I must say it was surprising. For the most part this is a fictionalized account of Maud Baum’s life. However, the story alternates between Maud’s background and the Wizard of Oz movie set in 1939, where Maud has appointed herself the protector and overseer of Frank’s beloved characters. However, once ensconced in the studio, it is Judy Garland she feels the most protective of.
I often explain that when I start writing a book review, all I’m really doing is thinking out loud and rambling. This book had my mind wandering all over the place, so this review is bound to skip from one random thought to another.
Two things about the movie, and Judy Garland, were on my mind while reading this book. One was a fascinating article about a pair of stolen ruby slippers used in The Wizard of Oz film, which was featured in the Washington Post.
https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/....
The other thing was that after seeing Rene Zellweger’s movie trailer, I was reminded of the tragic turn Judy’s life took in her later years. This weighed on my mind while I read portions of this book, describing the abuse Judy was subjected to during the filming of the movie. I’m looking forward to seeing Rene’s performance, though.
But as to my thoughts about this novel-
I found Maud’s character to be an interesting one. She is definitely her mother’s daughter in many ways. She absorbed more of her mother’s lessons than her sister did and practiced what she preached in an era of time when such behavior was unheard of. Yet, when it came to Frank… well, he wasn’t what her mother had in mind for Maud, but despite his obvious flaws, the two were a passionate couple, despite having opposite temperaments. While many misconstrue the meaning of ‘Happily Ever After’, this couple did, despite everything, enjoy a long- lasting love story.
( On the night of Frank's death on May 16, 1919, Maud imparted in a letter to her relatives, Helen Leslie and Leslie Gage: He told me many times I was the only one he had ever loved. He hated to die, did not want to leave me, said he was never happy without me, but it was better he should go first, if it had to be, for I doubt if he could have got along without me. It is all so sad, and I am so forlorn and alone. For nearly thirty-seven years we had been everything to each other, we were happy, and now I am alone, to face the world alone.)
Maud did not live a charmed life by any means, but I was fascinated by her life experiences and loved Lett’s version of events which gives the reader a few insights on where Frank found his inspiration for his book characters and stories.
The segments where Maud forces herself onto the Wizard of Oz studio set may seem a bit more dubious, but the author manages to juxtapose the magical quality of the picture with the darker realities of Judy Garland’s life as a young actress at the mercy of a monstrous stage mother, sexual harassment, and the pressure to stay thin and childlike.
The story is often very bleak, as good times, contentment, and joy are rare occurrences. There were times when I felt I needed a little break from reading this book, as a result. Not only was it a bit depressing, it was also slow moving at times, and I felt some segments could have been shortened. However, I am glad I stuck it out, as it did give me a lot to feel thankful for and an appreciation or the hardships many endured during this time period, especially women.
However, one thing the author manages to translate in the midst of all the hardships and trials, is that despite the constant difficulties in Maud’s life, and the sinister aspects of Hollywood, it is healthy, no matter what your age, to believe in a little magic sometimes. Indulging in a little make believe or fantasy can be cathartic. Frank’s stories were a gift and he intended them to bring joy and pleasure, which they did, for children and adults alike.
In an age where the bar is set high for authors to create books and write stories which are realistic, girding their creative license and stripping them of the right to simply make up a town, country, or even a name of a restaurant,or take liberties of any kind, insert the improbable or implausible for effect, this story slams home the danger of binding creativity and imagination or shaming those who like to indulge in fairytale romances, folklore, or fantasy of any kind. When did encouraging the freedom to dream or fantasize become a cardinal sin?
“Folklore, legends, myths and fairy tales have followed childhood through the ages, for every healthy youngster has a wholesome and instinctive love for stories fantastic, marvelous and manifestly unreal. The winged fairies of Grimm and Andersen have brought more happiness to childish hearts than all other human creations.
Yet the old time fairy tale, having served for generations, may now be classed as “historical” in the children’s library; for the time has come for a series of newer “wonder tales” in which the stereotyped genie, dwarf and fairy are eliminated, together with all the horrible and blood-curdling incidents devised by their authors to point a fearsome moral to each tale. Modern education includes morality; therefore the modern child seeks only entertainment in its wonder tales and gladly dispenses with all disagreeable incident.
Having this thought in mind, the story of “The Wonderful Wizard of Oz” was written solely to please children of today. It aspires to being a modernized fairy tale, in which the wonderment and joy are retained and the heartaches and nightmares are left out.”
L. Frank Baum
Chicago, April, 1900.
Elizabeth Letts reminds us to simply allow ourselves to sit back and enjoy a good story, and let our imaginations roam freely, without feeling guilty for having indulged in something outside the realm of reality for just a little while. Sure, Maud may have lost faith a time or two, but she knew Frank’s stories were a gift - and that gift keeps on giving, even today.
So, go ahead- dream a little dream, believe in love, believe in magic, and dare to hope.
“Magic isn’t things materializing out of nowhere. Magic is when a lot of people all believe in the same thing at the same time, and somehow we all escape ourselves a little bit and we meet up somewhere, and just a moment, we taste the sublime.”
4 stars
February 23, 2019
Elizabeth Letts blends fact and fiction in this fascinating piece of historical fiction that explores the life of Maud Gage Baum, the little known wife of L Frank Baum, the famous author of the The Wizard of Oz. The narrative has two timelines, that of Maud and her family from the 1870s onwards, and the 78 year old Maud's presence on the Hollywood film set of The Wizard of Oz in 1939 where she aims to ensure that the movie stays true to her husband's vision. Maud is the daughter of Matilda, a well known suffragette, a feminist and mother who ensured that Maud was unencumbered by the limits faced by women at the time. Maud is a fearless and independent character, and one of the first women to attend Cornell University, which is where she meets the actor, Frank, when the two are introduced to each other by her flatmate.
Maud proves to be her own woman when she marries Frank despite the fierce opposition of her mother. Frank is a wonderfully imaginative father, but it is Maud's indomitable strength, optimism and determination that is key to surviving challenging years of penury in South Dakota, where various entrepreneurial ventures collapse. Insights of their family and children through the years are to inform Frank's novel and the characters within it, such as Dorothy and the Tin Man. These years lay the foundation for the strong willed Maud that we encounter in 1939, she has no qualms about taking on Hollywood executives. The young Judy Garland is being mistreated and abused on the film, slapped, fed pills and cigarettes to keep her weight down, all of which is aided and abetted by Judy's ghastly and ambitious mother. Maud takes it upon herself to do all that she can to help and protect Judy, but no doubt it is these beginnings that are to contribute to Judy's later life becoming so troubled with her addictions and insecurities.
Letts engages in considerable research for her novel, although she does take liberties here and there with history and her characters. I found this compulsive reading, particularly the parts that relate to the making of The Wizard of Oz, which I have seen so many times and love, I imagine there are few people who have never seen it. Letts characterisation of Maud is wonderful, Maud is a one off, the kind of woman that I was immediately drawn to and found such a compulsive stand out character as the central protagonist of the story. This is an entertaining read and I thoroughly enjoyed the insights of US history provided in Maud and Frank's story and that of the Hollywood movie business that Letts provides in the narrative. Many thanks to Quercus for an ARC.
Maud proves to be her own woman when she marries Frank despite the fierce opposition of her mother. Frank is a wonderfully imaginative father, but it is Maud's indomitable strength, optimism and determination that is key to surviving challenging years of penury in South Dakota, where various entrepreneurial ventures collapse. Insights of their family and children through the years are to inform Frank's novel and the characters within it, such as Dorothy and the Tin Man. These years lay the foundation for the strong willed Maud that we encounter in 1939, she has no qualms about taking on Hollywood executives. The young Judy Garland is being mistreated and abused on the film, slapped, fed pills and cigarettes to keep her weight down, all of which is aided and abetted by Judy's ghastly and ambitious mother. Maud takes it upon herself to do all that she can to help and protect Judy, but no doubt it is these beginnings that are to contribute to Judy's later life becoming so troubled with her addictions and insecurities.
Letts engages in considerable research for her novel, although she does take liberties here and there with history and her characters. I found this compulsive reading, particularly the parts that relate to the making of The Wizard of Oz, which I have seen so many times and love, I imagine there are few people who have never seen it. Letts characterisation of Maud is wonderful, Maud is a one off, the kind of woman that I was immediately drawn to and found such a compulsive stand out character as the central protagonist of the story. This is an entertaining read and I thoroughly enjoyed the insights of US history provided in Maud and Frank's story and that of the Hollywood movie business that Letts provides in the narrative. Many thanks to Quercus for an ARC.
February 12, 2019
!! NOW AVAILABLE !!
When Maud Gage began her first year of Cornell University, her focus was only on higher learning, and certainly not the boys of Cornell. Her roommate is Josie, Josie Baum, and it is through Josie that Maud meets the man that was foretold by a somewhat silly group of young women, Josie’s brother – L. Frank Baum. A man who, one day, will write one of those beloved childhood books The Wizard of Oz.
This is the story that is behind the making of both the book, and the now classic film, a film that made its young star into a bona fide Hollywood icon.
This story is told in two different time frames, one in which Maud is still a relatively young girl, daughter of a suffragette, to her days at Cornell, how she meets the man who will become her husband, his gifts as an actor, their marriage and their life together, which wasn’t always easy. Although Frank was a man with many talents, they weren’t always helpful to them financially.
The alternate, 1938, timeline begins with Maud, now a 77-year-old widow, visiting the MGM studio following her discovery that they are making a movie of the book her husband wrote, and she is determined to ensure that they stay true to the story he wrote. It is there that she meets the young girl cast as Dorothy, Judy Garland, and begins to take her under her wing. This timeline is more amusing and interesting in the sense that it discloses some of the things that supposedly went on behind the screens.
What I loved were the little peeks at the stories that went into what would become The Wizard of Oz, even the choice of that title came from an originally innocent comment. Little snippets of conversations that led to other choices, some felt authentic, and some perhaps speculated on, but make for a good story. Facts that were “behind the scenes” decisions during the making of this movie really do give this a charming view on the making of this movie.
A poignant story that also maintains an optimistic outlook worthy of L. Frank Baum, a reminder to hold onto your faith for a better day on those days when life seems unrecognizable.
Elizabeth Letts is also the author of The Eighty-Dollar Champion and The Perfect Horse, and two novels, Quality of Care and Family Planning. In her writer’s biography she wrote: “ If you want to know why I’m a writer, you’d have to thank Mrs. Barclay, the children’s librarian in the Malaga Cove Library in Palos Verdes, California, and my mother who has read more books than anyone else I know, and who carted me to the library from the time I could barely walk.” At the age of thirty, she determined to try her hand at writing, and I doubt she’s turned back since but still states that reading remains her favourite “hobby.” But this mini bio was what made me want to read this one – a movie I loved when I was a young girl.
Pub Date: 12 FEB 2019
Many thanks for the ARC provided by Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine Books!
When Maud Gage began her first year of Cornell University, her focus was only on higher learning, and certainly not the boys of Cornell. Her roommate is Josie, Josie Baum, and it is through Josie that Maud meets the man that was foretold by a somewhat silly group of young women, Josie’s brother – L. Frank Baum. A man who, one day, will write one of those beloved childhood books The Wizard of Oz.
This is the story that is behind the making of both the book, and the now classic film, a film that made its young star into a bona fide Hollywood icon.
This story is told in two different time frames, one in which Maud is still a relatively young girl, daughter of a suffragette, to her days at Cornell, how she meets the man who will become her husband, his gifts as an actor, their marriage and their life together, which wasn’t always easy. Although Frank was a man with many talents, they weren’t always helpful to them financially.
The alternate, 1938, timeline begins with Maud, now a 77-year-old widow, visiting the MGM studio following her discovery that they are making a movie of the book her husband wrote, and she is determined to ensure that they stay true to the story he wrote. It is there that she meets the young girl cast as Dorothy, Judy Garland, and begins to take her under her wing. This timeline is more amusing and interesting in the sense that it discloses some of the things that supposedly went on behind the screens.
What I loved were the little peeks at the stories that went into what would become The Wizard of Oz, even the choice of that title came from an originally innocent comment. Little snippets of conversations that led to other choices, some felt authentic, and some perhaps speculated on, but make for a good story. Facts that were “behind the scenes” decisions during the making of this movie really do give this a charming view on the making of this movie.
A poignant story that also maintains an optimistic outlook worthy of L. Frank Baum, a reminder to hold onto your faith for a better day on those days when life seems unrecognizable.
Elizabeth Letts is also the author of The Eighty-Dollar Champion and The Perfect Horse, and two novels, Quality of Care and Family Planning. In her writer’s biography she wrote: “ If you want to know why I’m a writer, you’d have to thank Mrs. Barclay, the children’s librarian in the Malaga Cove Library in Palos Verdes, California, and my mother who has read more books than anyone else I know, and who carted me to the library from the time I could barely walk.” At the age of thirty, she determined to try her hand at writing, and I doubt she’s turned back since but still states that reading remains her favourite “hobby.” But this mini bio was what made me want to read this one – a movie I loved when I was a young girl.
Pub Date: 12 FEB 2019
Many thanks for the ARC provided by Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine Books!
February 7, 2019
3.5 I still remember when I first saw The wizard of Oz. I was fairly young and it was a little bit scary, and alot magical. I deliver it again through my children, and now it's the turn of my grandchildren. In fact my two grandaunts and i played make believe, reenacting the witches I'm melting scene. Great fun.
Anyway this story starts with a 77 year old Maude, coming to MGM studios to insist on assisting in the making of the movie. The movie of course written by her husband Frank, now dead for over 20 years. He had made her promise to take care of Dorothy. She meets a very young Judy Garland, who is singing, Somewhere over the rainbow.
The story then goes back in time to when Maude was in college, but leaves to marry Frank. Their lives wouldn't be easy but they would have four sons together. Thought this part was a little too dramatic and a little too drawn out.
The Hollywood story, however, did draw me in, so much I didn't know about Judy Garland. What a horrible piece of work her mother was, what tragic childhood. Anyway, a nostalgic trip down memory lane and the author does relate what was fact, and what was made up for the stake of the story. She did do an extensive amount of research. Definitely worth reading, just for the memories, which are priceless.
ARC from Edelweiss.
Anyway this story starts with a 77 year old Maude, coming to MGM studios to insist on assisting in the making of the movie. The movie of course written by her husband Frank, now dead for over 20 years. He had made her promise to take care of Dorothy. She meets a very young Judy Garland, who is singing, Somewhere over the rainbow.
The story then goes back in time to when Maude was in college, but leaves to marry Frank. Their lives wouldn't be easy but they would have four sons together. Thought this part was a little too dramatic and a little too drawn out.
The Hollywood story, however, did draw me in, so much I didn't know about Judy Garland. What a horrible piece of work her mother was, what tragic childhood. Anyway, a nostalgic trip down memory lane and the author does relate what was fact, and what was made up for the stake of the story. She did do an extensive amount of research. Definitely worth reading, just for the memories, which are priceless.
ARC from Edelweiss.
August 5, 2019
I’m off to follow the yellow brick road to drop off my negativity... pick up new marbles for my brain, give my heart a bath...and as for courage goes - well, it’s not an issue. ( as you can see)
It must be sacrilegious, to say anything less than ‘aw’, when it comes to “The Wonderful Wizard of Oz”.
But this book was just ‘ok’ for me.
Given that I’ve read some heavy books recently with another 700+ page book I’m reading filled with war- ( again) - drugs and violence ....
I thought there couldn’t be a more fluffy- fun book to read than “Finding Dorothy”... a lightweight pallet cleanser....
But I wasn’t especially enchanted. Oh this book was endearingly sweet at times,
but....
kick-ass Baum-wife, Maud, wasn’t particularly a warm-to-connect-with-woman.
And....this was her story. She had a lot to say....
but I found her personality a little off-putting.
The history was interesting... but I wasn’t blown over by it.
I like the beginning and ending more than the sleepy parts in the middle.
Our musical/ Theater daughter might enjoy this more than me.
She played Dorothy in a big community production growing up —
If I had to hear those songs- “Over the Rainbow” and “Ding Dong the Witch is Dead”, much more in our house...
....I might have taken a few runaway mother-strike days. Don’t get me wrong our daughter was a terrific Dorothy with a lovely belting voice ....but parents can only take ‘so much’ of listening to those Disney Songs.
I swear our daughter had hundreds of songs memorized in her head. We heard them for years.
I hate to be a scrooge- but I’ve been over everything Oz for years.
And Maud Baum didn’t re-inspire any freshness in me.
I’m sorry if I’m being a buzz-kill to die hard Oz fans...( I liked the movie - and saw it a half dozen times like everyone else)....
But...I didn’t care if I found Dorothy or not in this novel.
However....
If I ever have grandchildren - ( 99.9% doubtful though) - I promise to do my duty and enjoy The Wonderful Wizard of Oz with them.... and listen to the children sing all they want.
It must be sacrilegious, to say anything less than ‘aw’, when it comes to “The Wonderful Wizard of Oz”.
But this book was just ‘ok’ for me.
Given that I’ve read some heavy books recently with another 700+ page book I’m reading filled with war- ( again) - drugs and violence ....
I thought there couldn’t be a more fluffy- fun book to read than “Finding Dorothy”... a lightweight pallet cleanser....
But I wasn’t especially enchanted. Oh this book was endearingly sweet at times,
but....
kick-ass Baum-wife, Maud, wasn’t particularly a warm-to-connect-with-woman.
And....this was her story. She had a lot to say....
but I found her personality a little off-putting.
The history was interesting... but I wasn’t blown over by it.
I like the beginning and ending more than the sleepy parts in the middle.
Our musical/ Theater daughter might enjoy this more than me.
She played Dorothy in a big community production growing up —
If I had to hear those songs- “Over the Rainbow” and “Ding Dong the Witch is Dead”, much more in our house...
....I might have taken a few runaway mother-strike days. Don’t get me wrong our daughter was a terrific Dorothy with a lovely belting voice ....but parents can only take ‘so much’ of listening to those Disney Songs.
I swear our daughter had hundreds of songs memorized in her head. We heard them for years.
I hate to be a scrooge- but I’ve been over everything Oz for years.
And Maud Baum didn’t re-inspire any freshness in me.
I’m sorry if I’m being a buzz-kill to die hard Oz fans...( I liked the movie - and saw it a half dozen times like everyone else)....
But...I didn’t care if I found Dorothy or not in this novel.
However....
If I ever have grandchildren - ( 99.9% doubtful though) - I promise to do my duty and enjoy The Wonderful Wizard of Oz with them.... and listen to the children sing all they want.
February 16, 2019
The story behind the story of the classic book and movie. ♥️
Finding Dorothy is the story behind one of the most beloved books (and movies) of all time, The Wizard of Oz. The story is told through the voice of L. Frank Baum’s wife, Maud.
Finding Dorothy covers the time that Maud and Frank live in South Dakota, barely making ends meet. It was during this time that the couple meets a real life Dorothy who inspired Frank to write the novel. The book also covers Maud’s early years as the daughter of a suffragette.
When Maud later is introduced to Judy Garland, who would play the beloved Dorothy character in the movie, she describes how Garland’s rendition of “Over the Rainbow” takes her back to those tough days before the book’s big boom.
Maud and Judy Garland connect despite their over sixty year age difference. Maud is a widow at the time of the making of the movie.
Alternating between the past storyline of Maud’s life and Maud and Frank’s marriage, there is also the storyline in 1939 on the active film set of the movie. During these days, Judy is mistreated by those making the movie, as well as by her “stage” mother, and Maud does her best to protect her.
Finding Dorothy feels well-researched and authentic. Fans of the book or movie will gobble this one up. The author is as passionate about the story as many of us are, and it shines through in her writing, especially in the afterword. If you are a Wizard of Oz fan, I think this one should definitely be on your TBR!
I received a complimentary copy. All opinions are my own.
My reviews can also be found on my blog: www.jennifertarheelreader.com
Finding Dorothy is the story behind one of the most beloved books (and movies) of all time, The Wizard of Oz. The story is told through the voice of L. Frank Baum’s wife, Maud.
Finding Dorothy covers the time that Maud and Frank live in South Dakota, barely making ends meet. It was during this time that the couple meets a real life Dorothy who inspired Frank to write the novel. The book also covers Maud’s early years as the daughter of a suffragette.
When Maud later is introduced to Judy Garland, who would play the beloved Dorothy character in the movie, she describes how Garland’s rendition of “Over the Rainbow” takes her back to those tough days before the book’s big boom.
Maud and Judy Garland connect despite their over sixty year age difference. Maud is a widow at the time of the making of the movie.
Alternating between the past storyline of Maud’s life and Maud and Frank’s marriage, there is also the storyline in 1939 on the active film set of the movie. During these days, Judy is mistreated by those making the movie, as well as by her “stage” mother, and Maud does her best to protect her.
Finding Dorothy feels well-researched and authentic. Fans of the book or movie will gobble this one up. The author is as passionate about the story as many of us are, and it shines through in her writing, especially in the afterword. If you are a Wizard of Oz fan, I think this one should definitely be on your TBR!
I received a complimentary copy. All opinions are my own.
My reviews can also be found on my blog: www.jennifertarheelreader.com
January 23, 2019
This is a sweet story of the widow of L. Frank Baum, the writer of The Wonderful Wizard of Oz. It’s told both during the making of the movie (years after Mr. Baum has passed on) and the years of their lives together. Mrs. Maud Baum, the daughter of a suffragette, is one of the first women to go to Cornell as a coed. There, she is introduced to her future husband, the cousin of her roommate. She defies her mother to marry this theatre man.
This isn’t a deep tale or an overly impressive story. But it is entertaining. We hear everything from Maud’s perspective and it’s definitely her story, not Frank’s. The movie is so well known, it’s easy to picture Judy Garland and the scenes from the movie as they are created. You do learn interesting stories involving the origination of different ideas within the story, how the movie differed from the book and about the actors. I was pleased to learn that most of the inspiration for the book discussed in the novel is based on fact, as is a lot of the information concerning the movie’s production.
I never felt a connection with Maud. I never felt like she came across as a three dimensional character. Frank reminded me in some ways of P. T. Barnum, a fantastic imagination coupled with horrible business instinct.
So, this will appeal to those who are eager to learn something about the story more than those who like an in-depth character driven novel.
My thanks to netgalley and Random House/Ballantine Books for an advance copy of this novel.
March 10, 2019
Well, I have sat on my feelings for a few days about this book and realize that I just needed to come right out and say I disliked the book. I know it's hard for us book lovers and especially those who adored the movie The Wizard of Oz as a child, as a parent, and as a grandparent, but pushing that love aside and the fond memories it engendered, I found the book to be dull and pedantic.
While I did really like the parts that dealt with Judy Garland, Hollywood, the studio, and Maud, the other sections of the story were long, drawn out unnecessarily, and often especially towards the end, I resorted to skimming. Skimming is always a sign to me that the book's allure has taken a nose dive, and it's time to roll up the tent and vacate the premises.
I didn't vacate but sallied forth only to find that I should have forgotten about Finding Dorothy.
While I did really like the parts that dealt with Judy Garland, Hollywood, the studio, and Maud, the other sections of the story were long, drawn out unnecessarily, and often especially towards the end, I resorted to skimming. Skimming is always a sign to me that the book's allure has taken a nose dive, and it's time to roll up the tent and vacate the premises.
I didn't vacate but sallied forth only to find that I should have forgotten about Finding Dorothy.
May 16, 2022
Finding Dorothy is an imaginative and enjoyable fictional account of the life of Maude Baum, whose husband L. Frank Baum, wrote The Wizard of Oz. It includes her life as the daughter of a suffragette, one of the first female students at Columbia, the wife of a traveling actor, a mother of four boys during the late 1800s, and a frequent visitor to the filming of the 1939 classic movie, The Wizard of Oz.
March 11, 2019
This is a charming and very original story based on the making of the movie "The Wizard of Oz" in 1939. The author says her inspiration came from seeing a photo taken of Judy Garland with Maud Baum, the widow of L.Frank Baum, author of the fourteen books about Oz.
Although the author says she re-imagined the lives of Frank and Maud, she has researched her topic well and included many details about their lives and the making of the film. Maud was an interesting woman in her own right. Born in 1861, the daughter of prominent suffragettist Matilda Gage, she grew up a tomboy, completed high school and was one of the first women to enrol in the new women's college at Cornell University, although she left without completing her diploma to marry Frank and travel with his theatre company (not exactly what her mother had in mind for her!)
The author goes on to describe all the places they lived and the jobs Frank had, none of them amounting to much but all contributing to his experiences and his lively imagination. They certainly lived through some hard times until Frank published "The Wizard of Oz" in 1900. His love of making up stories first for Maud and then for their family of boys eventually led to his creation of the land of Oz and the wonderful tales that happened there.
Letts imagines Maud, some 20 years after Frank's death going to the MGM movie set, intent on making sure the legacy of Oz and Dorothy are preserved as Frank would have wanted. She describes the way Judy was treated, as a commodity and not a young girl, manipulated by her horrible stage mother and the producers, forced to take pills, diet and smoke cigarettes to keep her weight down.
This is a very engaging, well written novel, peppered with lots of fascinating stories and insights into the lives of Frank and Maud and the characters involved in the making of the movie. 4.5★
With thanks to Netgalley and Quercus books for a digital ARC to read
Although the author says she re-imagined the lives of Frank and Maud, she has researched her topic well and included many details about their lives and the making of the film. Maud was an interesting woman in her own right. Born in 1861, the daughter of prominent suffragettist Matilda Gage, she grew up a tomboy, completed high school and was one of the first women to enrol in the new women's college at Cornell University, although she left without completing her diploma to marry Frank and travel with his theatre company (not exactly what her mother had in mind for her!)
The author goes on to describe all the places they lived and the jobs Frank had, none of them amounting to much but all contributing to his experiences and his lively imagination. They certainly lived through some hard times until Frank published "The Wizard of Oz" in 1900. His love of making up stories first for Maud and then for their family of boys eventually led to his creation of the land of Oz and the wonderful tales that happened there.
Letts imagines Maud, some 20 years after Frank's death going to the MGM movie set, intent on making sure the legacy of Oz and Dorothy are preserved as Frank would have wanted. She describes the way Judy was treated, as a commodity and not a young girl, manipulated by her horrible stage mother and the producers, forced to take pills, diet and smoke cigarettes to keep her weight down.
This is a very engaging, well written novel, peppered with lots of fascinating stories and insights into the lives of Frank and Maud and the characters involved in the making of the movie. 4.5★
With thanks to Netgalley and Quercus books for a digital ARC to read
July 22, 2019
I have many pleasant memories from my childhood. However, there is one that is confusing. I was not a fan of The Wizard of Oz movie, yet I regularly watched it on TV. I think that a comfy seat on the sofa next to my grandmother, a bowl of freshly popped popcorn and an extension to my bedtime made watching a wicked witch, flying monkeys, and a tornado, okay.
I never read the book The Wonderful Wizard of Oz. All I knew came from the 1939 movie. It surprised me that my interest in Oz was piqued by the offer to read the “historical based” novel Finding Dorothy by Elizabeth Letts.
Finding Dorothy is an account of the life of Maud Gage Baum, wife of Frank Baum, author of The Wonderful Wizard of Oz. Maud had an interesting life. She was raised by a well known suffragette. Bright and assured, Maud enrolled in Cornell University, where she was one of the early female attendees.
At Cornell, Maud roomed with Josie Baum, sister of Frank Baum. Their attraction is mutual and marriage is the next step despite her mother’s initial objections. Frank has the creative imagination and lofty ideas but these do not translate into a solid base for raising a family. Fortunately Maud was a strong-willed determined wife and mother whose can do attitude helped her meet the challenges that a harsh South Dakota environment threw her way.
Life changes when the Baum’s move to California because of Franks poor health.
Maud becomes the guardian of Frank’s legacy when Hollywood determines that Oz would make a wonderful movie. Though now in her 70s, Maud fights to preserve the story that her husband had written. Along the way she also becomes a protector to the young Judy Garland who is mistreated by the film studio and sadly and painfully by her mother. Maud shows no fear as she fights one last battle to ensure what we watch on the big screen is what her husbands imagination conceived.
Finding Dorothy is not a research project full of footnotes and citations. It is the work of a writer who explored a topic with skill and affection and wrote a novel that gives great insight into how an iconic American entertainment movie came to be. Frank and Maud would be grateful and proud. I received an advance copy of this book from NetGalley. #NetGalley #FindingDorothy
I never read the book The Wonderful Wizard of Oz. All I knew came from the 1939 movie. It surprised me that my interest in Oz was piqued by the offer to read the “historical based” novel Finding Dorothy by Elizabeth Letts.
Finding Dorothy is an account of the life of Maud Gage Baum, wife of Frank Baum, author of The Wonderful Wizard of Oz. Maud had an interesting life. She was raised by a well known suffragette. Bright and assured, Maud enrolled in Cornell University, where she was one of the early female attendees.
At Cornell, Maud roomed with Josie Baum, sister of Frank Baum. Their attraction is mutual and marriage is the next step despite her mother’s initial objections. Frank has the creative imagination and lofty ideas but these do not translate into a solid base for raising a family. Fortunately Maud was a strong-willed determined wife and mother whose can do attitude helped her meet the challenges that a harsh South Dakota environment threw her way.
Life changes when the Baum’s move to California because of Franks poor health.
Maud becomes the guardian of Frank’s legacy when Hollywood determines that Oz would make a wonderful movie. Though now in her 70s, Maud fights to preserve the story that her husband had written. Along the way she also becomes a protector to the young Judy Garland who is mistreated by the film studio and sadly and painfully by her mother. Maud shows no fear as she fights one last battle to ensure what we watch on the big screen is what her husbands imagination conceived.
Finding Dorothy is not a research project full of footnotes and citations. It is the work of a writer who explored a topic with skill and affection and wrote a novel that gives great insight into how an iconic American entertainment movie came to be. Frank and Maud would be grateful and proud. I received an advance copy of this book from NetGalley. #NetGalley #FindingDorothy
January 13, 2019
I received a free e-copy of Finding Dorothy: A Novel by Elizabeth Letts from NetGalley for my honest review.
Who didn't love The Wonderful Wizard of Oz? A fascinating and adventurous classic MGM movie starring Judy Garland. Now years later,Elizabeth Letts introduces us to the author (L. Frank Baum) behind the book and movie. We also get to learn about his wife, (Maud). This story is told through Maud's voice. It is a story of her life.
Maud Baum, f/k/a Maud Gage, was the daughter of a shopkeeper, Maud's mother, Matilda, taught her daughter to treasure education and independent thinking. Maud, later meets Frank, an traveling theater man. Maud marries Frank, and they spent many years living poorly. It wasn't until Frank wrote The Wizard of Oz, that their lives changed. Maud later moved to Hollywood and when the book was turning into a film, she met Judy Garland. Maud befriended Judy, and fought with the producers, trying to keep her husbands book true to his story.
This book is beautifully written with lots of detail and emotion. I highly recommend this book to anyone especially for those who love The Wizard Of Oz.
Who didn't love The Wonderful Wizard of Oz? A fascinating and adventurous classic MGM movie starring Judy Garland. Now years later,Elizabeth Letts introduces us to the author (L. Frank Baum) behind the book and movie. We also get to learn about his wife, (Maud). This story is told through Maud's voice. It is a story of her life.
Maud Baum, f/k/a Maud Gage, was the daughter of a shopkeeper, Maud's mother, Matilda, taught her daughter to treasure education and independent thinking. Maud, later meets Frank, an traveling theater man. Maud marries Frank, and they spent many years living poorly. It wasn't until Frank wrote The Wizard of Oz, that their lives changed. Maud later moved to Hollywood and when the book was turning into a film, she met Judy Garland. Maud befriended Judy, and fought with the producers, trying to keep her husbands book true to his story.
This book is beautifully written with lots of detail and emotion. I highly recommend this book to anyone especially for those who love The Wizard Of Oz.
April 22, 2019
In 1939, Maud Gage Baum met with Judy Garland on the set of the now classic The Wizard of Oz. The seventy-eight year old widow of the Oz author immediately felt drawn to the young star, particularly after hearing her rendition of the iconic “Somewhere Over the Rainbow”. From that bit of music, their stories unfold as Maud recounts growing up as the daughter of a major suffragette and her eventual marriage to and life with the man behind the curtain all while Judy balances her blooming career on a tumultuous set. From Maud’s past struggling in the prairies of South Dakota to Judy’s present dealing with a predatory director, their stories weave around each other, all while Maud tries to protect Judy and, in turn, Dorothy.
Author Elizabeth Letts works some remarkable magic by making Maud’s story take center stage in a compelling way. This is not to suggest that Maud Gage isn’t a great character in her own right. She is. The daughter of an important suffragette, she could refer to Susan B. Anthony as Auntie. She attended Cornell in one of the first co-ed classes in the school’s history. And, of course, she inspired, in some capacity, most of the book The Wizard of Oz.
However, even with all of that, her story has to compete with the dual narrative of Judy Garland and the making of the movie. Characters like Ray Bolger and Louis B. Mayer crop up regularly, and major fans of Oz will most likely be looking out for how these individuals are portrayed. Maud has to deal with focus being pulled away from her simply because she’s (unjustifiably) less famous in the movie’s lore.
But that doesn’t happen. As the book chronicles Maud’s movement from under her famous mother to college and the prairie and beyond, she commands attention. It’s easy to understand how her passion and drive would ultimately inspire the idealistic dreamer that was L. Frank Baum to pen his most famous work, even when her confidence in his success was shaken.
When the narrative shifts back to the movie studio and Maud’s mission to protect Judy, there’s almost a pull to keep the story going in the past. It becomes too interesting listening to Maud deal with her ever-strained relationship with her sister or her desire for a daughter. Yet Letts masterfully weaves these two stories together by slapping on a bit of Hollywood veneer, and soon it’s just as compelling reading about a Scarecrow smoking a cigarette while on break from filming. Of course, much like The Wizard of Oz wouldn’t have worked without Maud, these scenes also would have suffered without her parallel from the past. They’re gorgeously linked.
Above all, it’s the tension of the piece that’s brilliant, which is so hard to get right in historical fiction. Yes, the book eventually gets written. Yes, the movie eventually gets made. However, much like the many retellings of the doomed Titanic (spoiler: it sinks), it’s not about the ending— it’s about the journey. This one just happens to take place on a long, bumpy road of yellow brick.
Judy Garland was a huge talent who suffered for her big break. Maud Gage was a wonderful woman who sacrificed immensely for her husband’s creativity. Elizabeth Letts has created a deeply satisfying work by exploring their stories together.
Note: I received a free ARC of this book through NetGalley.
Author Elizabeth Letts works some remarkable magic by making Maud’s story take center stage in a compelling way. This is not to suggest that Maud Gage isn’t a great character in her own right. She is. The daughter of an important suffragette, she could refer to Susan B. Anthony as Auntie. She attended Cornell in one of the first co-ed classes in the school’s history. And, of course, she inspired, in some capacity, most of the book The Wizard of Oz.
However, even with all of that, her story has to compete with the dual narrative of Judy Garland and the making of the movie. Characters like Ray Bolger and Louis B. Mayer crop up regularly, and major fans of Oz will most likely be looking out for how these individuals are portrayed. Maud has to deal with focus being pulled away from her simply because she’s (unjustifiably) less famous in the movie’s lore.
But that doesn’t happen. As the book chronicles Maud’s movement from under her famous mother to college and the prairie and beyond, she commands attention. It’s easy to understand how her passion and drive would ultimately inspire the idealistic dreamer that was L. Frank Baum to pen his most famous work, even when her confidence in his success was shaken.
When the narrative shifts back to the movie studio and Maud’s mission to protect Judy, there’s almost a pull to keep the story going in the past. It becomes too interesting listening to Maud deal with her ever-strained relationship with her sister or her desire for a daughter. Yet Letts masterfully weaves these two stories together by slapping on a bit of Hollywood veneer, and soon it’s just as compelling reading about a Scarecrow smoking a cigarette while on break from filming. Of course, much like The Wizard of Oz wouldn’t have worked without Maud, these scenes also would have suffered without her parallel from the past. They’re gorgeously linked.
Above all, it’s the tension of the piece that’s brilliant, which is so hard to get right in historical fiction. Yes, the book eventually gets written. Yes, the movie eventually gets made. However, much like the many retellings of the doomed Titanic (spoiler: it sinks), it’s not about the ending— it’s about the journey. This one just happens to take place on a long, bumpy road of yellow brick.
Judy Garland was a huge talent who suffered for her big break. Maud Gage was a wonderful woman who sacrificed immensely for her husband’s creativity. Elizabeth Letts has created a deeply satisfying work by exploring their stories together.
Note: I received a free ARC of this book through NetGalley.
May 22, 2021
Without doubt the movie, The Wizard of Oz, is legendary. Adapted from the book by Frank Baum written at the turn of the 20th century, "Finding Dorothy" is a remarkable, well researched, engaging story about how the story came to be. Told through the eyes of Frank's wife, Maud when she appears at the MGM lot, the story flips back and forth from the filming to her life. Her mother was one of the first women's suffrage advocates and Maud inherits her strength of character. Introduced to Frank, her college roommate's brother, its love at first sight which leads them down 'the yellow brick road' of marriage. Creative, optimistic and dedicated, we're immersed in their lives, challenges and characters, the basis for the iconic story, "The Wonderful Wizard of Oz". This 'over the rainbow' tale is so well written it was difficult to put down. Regardless of genre preference, age, sex or culture, "Finding Dorothy" should be on everyone's list!
January 10, 2020
Like many of my generation, I grew up with "The Wizard of Oz." No, I don't mean the book, that was an earlier generation. What I remember was once a year it would be on TV preceded by much fanfare. People couldn't record it and watch it at their leisure. That capability was some thirty years in the future. What we did was gather around the black-and-white with bowls of popcorn that Mom made on the stove, and Kool Aid for the kids. And unlike "A Christmas Story" it was only shown once and not all day long. So yes, "The Wizard of Oz" was special to me.
As for the book, "Finding Dorothy," I was greatly disappointed. First of all, I personally am quite annoyed by the time jumping. First she is old, and then she is young, rinse and repeat. Some don't mind that but in my book they are pages I want to rip out!.
The other thing was that after 100 pages I was finding it a chore to read as I just didn't connect with the characters, so I never finished it. Based on the reviews I have read on Goodreads, I would have probably felt the same way had I finished it.
On the plus side, the author seemed to have done a lot of research so I give her credit for that. If you are an Oz fan, you might probably like the book.
As for the book, "Finding Dorothy," I was greatly disappointed. First of all, I personally am quite annoyed by the time jumping. First she is old, and then she is young, rinse and repeat. Some don't mind that but in my book they are pages I want to rip out!.
The other thing was that after 100 pages I was finding it a chore to read as I just didn't connect with the characters, so I never finished it. Based on the reviews I have read on Goodreads, I would have probably felt the same way had I finished it.
On the plus side, the author seemed to have done a lot of research so I give her credit for that. If you are an Oz fan, you might probably like the book.
January 18, 2025
I loved this book. There were so many archetypes for how The Wonderful Wizard of Oz was created. The author’s note at the end ties it altogether. The author explains almost if all of it is based on historical facts and admits where she has filled in the blanks. It’s worth reading.
Maud and Frank were a formidable couple, and of course I loved how committed Frank was to women’s suffrage. I realize how much more I love this couple because of how much they remind me of my parents: my dad was the dreamer and the spender and the force of our lives; my mom was the realist and the saver and the grounding we all needed.
When I was in fourth grade, I went to my first book sale. It was at the school library. Paperbacks cost 05¢, and hardcovers cost 25¢. It was just under a mile from our house, and most days, it was a 20-minute walk. I bought so many books that my brother and I had to stop every few minutes for me to rearrange the weight of the books under and on and in each arm as well as in my backpack. I was so excited about them that I wouldn’t let him help me. I’m sure it took us twice as long to get home. The Wonderful Wizard of Oz was in that collection, a green hardcover. I still have that book 💕
Maud and Frank were a formidable couple, and of course I loved how committed Frank was to women’s suffrage. I realize how much more I love this couple because of how much they remind me of my parents: my dad was the dreamer and the spender and the force of our lives; my mom was the realist and the saver and the grounding we all needed.
When I was in fourth grade, I went to my first book sale. It was at the school library. Paperbacks cost 05¢, and hardcovers cost 25¢. It was just under a mile from our house, and most days, it was a 20-minute walk. I bought so many books that my brother and I had to stop every few minutes for me to rearrange the weight of the books under and on and in each arm as well as in my backpack. I was so excited about them that I wouldn’t let him help me. I’m sure it took us twice as long to get home. The Wonderful Wizard of Oz was in that collection, a green hardcover. I still have that book 💕
March 13, 2019
Book Reviewed by Stacey on www.whisperingstories.com
The 1939 film The Wizard of Oz is one of my all-time favourite classic movies. I’ve always been in awe at how a film from the era it was made in was done so spectacular and with a great cast, including Judy Garland.
With this in mind when I heard about the book ‘Finding Dorothy’ I just had to read it. The book reads like part biography and part story, although all the book is fictionalised, Elizabeth Letts has stuck to the facts when it came to Maud Baum’s earlier life and her marriage to L. Frank Baum – the author of The Wonderful Wizard of Oz. You can tell how much research and dedication went into this book, as well as how much of a joy it must have been to write.
The plot moves back and forth between Maud’s earlier life starting as a child and watching her grow into a strong young woman. The daughter of a suffragette and well educated. She gave up her education to be with L. Frank Baum. The book follows their life together through poverty and riches. In other chapters, we get to be witness to Maud Baum as she offers her help to M.G.M as they film an adaptation of her late husband’s book and she takes young Judy Garland (Dorothy) under her protective wings.
The book is completely fascinating and brought to the forefront information on a woman I only knew by name. She had an extraordinary life, even before she met L. Frank Baum. Whilst I enjoyed getting to know Maud and her past, at times these sections felt slow and they were far longer chapters than the ones set in 1938. The later years chapters were the ones that I completely adored and were fascinated by.
If you love The Wizard of Oz movie or the children’s books series (yes there are multiple books featuring Oz), then this novel would be just perfect for you. It is eye-opening and brings you into the life of a woman who lived such a remarkable life. You also get to hear all about the famous movie being made and the lives of the actors too – even if it is a work of fiction it felt so real.
The 1939 film The Wizard of Oz is one of my all-time favourite classic movies. I’ve always been in awe at how a film from the era it was made in was done so spectacular and with a great cast, including Judy Garland.
With this in mind when I heard about the book ‘Finding Dorothy’ I just had to read it. The book reads like part biography and part story, although all the book is fictionalised, Elizabeth Letts has stuck to the facts when it came to Maud Baum’s earlier life and her marriage to L. Frank Baum – the author of The Wonderful Wizard of Oz. You can tell how much research and dedication went into this book, as well as how much of a joy it must have been to write.
The plot moves back and forth between Maud’s earlier life starting as a child and watching her grow into a strong young woman. The daughter of a suffragette and well educated. She gave up her education to be with L. Frank Baum. The book follows their life together through poverty and riches. In other chapters, we get to be witness to Maud Baum as she offers her help to M.G.M as they film an adaptation of her late husband’s book and she takes young Judy Garland (Dorothy) under her protective wings.
The book is completely fascinating and brought to the forefront information on a woman I only knew by name. She had an extraordinary life, even before she met L. Frank Baum. Whilst I enjoyed getting to know Maud and her past, at times these sections felt slow and they were far longer chapters than the ones set in 1938. The later years chapters were the ones that I completely adored and were fascinated by.
If you love The Wizard of Oz movie or the children’s books series (yes there are multiple books featuring Oz), then this novel would be just perfect for you. It is eye-opening and brings you into the life of a woman who lived such a remarkable life. You also get to hear all about the famous movie being made and the lives of the actors too – even if it is a work of fiction it felt so real.
May 21, 2019
This book was wonderful it was beautifully written . It’s about the wife of L. Frank Baum’s wife Maude. Now I love all things old Hollywood and I love Judy Garland and I especially love wizard of oz but this book is told in 2 parts part the making of the Oz movie and Maude’s past, and I found myself loving the old parts of her past it was a captivating story. I can’t recommend this book enough it’s wonderful like the wonderful wizard of Oz.
March 4, 2022
This delightful story is based on the making of the movie “The Wizard of Oz” in 1939 and the writer’s wife Maud Baum visits MGM studios to fulfill the promise she made to her beloved husband Frank. Maud is seventy eight and Judy Garland the actress playing Dorothy is sixteen and despite the age difference they become friends. Maud’s worried about the movie staying as closes as possible to her husband’s classic book, she’s very concerned about the behavior of older men around Judy, the criticism she receives about her weight, the pills they give her to curb her appetite and they encourage the teenager to smoke cigarettes.
The dual time line narrative looks at Maud’s childhood as a tomboy, her mother Matilda Gage was a leading suffragette, her time at Cornell University, meeting her husband Frank, the early years of their marriage and how he found his inspiration to write The Wonderful Wizard of Oz and the making of the movie.
Matilda Gage wanted Maud to get her diploma, instead she didn’t finish college and married. Frank Baum was a dreamer, he loved his wife and children and he gave up acting and got a real job. The Baum’s moved around a lot in the early years of their marriage, Frank opened a shop called Baum’s Bazar in Aberdeen Kansas and this is where he found inspiration for many of the characters in the book he wrote over a decade later. Frank Baum saw the wonder in the simple things around him, he loved to bring joy to children and he achieved this by writing his first book in 1900.
Finding Dorothy is full of interesting stories and insights into the lives of Frank and Maud and their four children. The numerous characters involved in the making of the movie, their costumes and the set and how the iconic song almost didn’t make it into the film.
I received a copy of Finding Dorothy by Elizabeth Letts from NetGalley and Quercus Books in exchange for an honest review, I loved the connection between Maud and Judy and of course between Maud and Frank, a beautiful and uplifting story about following your dreams and five stars from me.
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The dual time line narrative looks at Maud’s childhood as a tomboy, her mother Matilda Gage was a leading suffragette, her time at Cornell University, meeting her husband Frank, the early years of their marriage and how he found his inspiration to write The Wonderful Wizard of Oz and the making of the movie.
Matilda Gage wanted Maud to get her diploma, instead she didn’t finish college and married. Frank Baum was a dreamer, he loved his wife and children and he gave up acting and got a real job. The Baum’s moved around a lot in the early years of their marriage, Frank opened a shop called Baum’s Bazar in Aberdeen Kansas and this is where he found inspiration for many of the characters in the book he wrote over a decade later. Frank Baum saw the wonder in the simple things around him, he loved to bring joy to children and he achieved this by writing his first book in 1900.
Finding Dorothy is full of interesting stories and insights into the lives of Frank and Maud and their four children. The numerous characters involved in the making of the movie, their costumes and the set and how the iconic song almost didn’t make it into the film.
I received a copy of Finding Dorothy by Elizabeth Letts from NetGalley and Quercus Books in exchange for an honest review, I loved the connection between Maud and Judy and of course between Maud and Frank, a beautiful and uplifting story about following your dreams and five stars from me.
https://www.facebook.com/KarrenReadsH...
https://karrenreadsbooks.blogspot.com/
December 12, 2024
“You always need to fix your own problems. Nobody else is going to fix them for you.”
- the wizard was right.
When the author saw a photo of Maud Baum and Judy Garland on set at the filming of The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, she knew she had an idea for a book.
Maud was married to L. Frank Blaum, the author of The Wonderful Wizard of Oz. He’d died before the filming of the movie, but Maud was listed as a consultant on the set. Author Elizabeth Letts took the facts and blended them together with her creative flair to produce a fantastic historical non-fiction narrative.
I like the idea of a strong, influential woman who was there at the inspiration of this iconic book, living with the author while it was written and now, a widow at 78, consulting on the movie production - essentially seeing her husband’s dream come true. I loved her point of view and seeing L. Frank Baum through her eyes.
I was also drawn to another strong, influential woman in this novel; Matilda, Maude’s mother. I went down a rabbit hole Googling her role in the suffrage movement.
I smiled reading about the inspiration of the book’s characters and the Cornell Women’s Society of the Broom, enjoyed learning about the first 16 females to enroll at Cornell and almost spat out my coffee when I read about the men’s reactions, what it was like for the actors in those costumes and the health concerns and misconduct allegations. Most of all, I was shocked to hear of a battle to include ‘Somewhere Over The Rainbow.’
This was a book club pick for my university alumni book club. The author Zoomed in with readers and the talk was informative and enjoyable. The moderator and the author worked really well together.
- the wizard was right.
When the author saw a photo of Maud Baum and Judy Garland on set at the filming of The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, she knew she had an idea for a book.
Maud was married to L. Frank Blaum, the author of The Wonderful Wizard of Oz. He’d died before the filming of the movie, but Maud was listed as a consultant on the set. Author Elizabeth Letts took the facts and blended them together with her creative flair to produce a fantastic historical non-fiction narrative.
I like the idea of a strong, influential woman who was there at the inspiration of this iconic book, living with the author while it was written and now, a widow at 78, consulting on the movie production - essentially seeing her husband’s dream come true. I loved her point of view and seeing L. Frank Baum through her eyes.
I was also drawn to another strong, influential woman in this novel; Matilda, Maude’s mother. I went down a rabbit hole Googling her role in the suffrage movement.
I smiled reading about the inspiration of the book’s characters and the Cornell Women’s Society of the Broom, enjoyed learning about the first 16 females to enroll at Cornell and almost spat out my coffee when I read about the men’s reactions, what it was like for the actors in those costumes and the health concerns and misconduct allegations. Most of all, I was shocked to hear of a battle to include ‘Somewhere Over The Rainbow.’
This was a book club pick for my university alumni book club. The author Zoomed in with readers and the talk was informative and enjoyable. The moderator and the author worked really well together.
January 15, 2022
This book had it’s interesting points perhaps early on. It skipped back and forth between timelines so much that I got confused where one ended and the other began. It was interesting to read the development of the Wizard of Oz. Mostly I felt the book was slow and boring. The reviews were so good. The book highly recommended that I am terribly disappointed. Perhaps my expectations are too high. 3⭐️ since I finished it and found parts interesting enough.
April 21, 2019
“Don’t let anybody steal your marbles.”
Maud Gage Baum is one of a kind. The godchild of Susan B. Anthony, child of first-wave feminist Matilda Joslyn Gage and an indulgent, progressively inclined father, she is unhampered by many of the traditional expectations that shackle women born during the American Civil War. But though her parents encourage her to develop her mind and talents, they have little prepared her for the wider world that greets her, and when she arrives at the women’s dormitory at Cornell University, she is considered peculiar by her classmates. She is a lonely young woman until her roommate sets her up with Frank, an eccentric, clever man whose whimsy equals her own.
My great thanks go to Net Galley and Random House Ballantine for the review copy, which I received free in exchange for this honest review. It will be available to the public tomorrow, February 12, just in time to be wrapped in red paper and given to the bookworm you adore.
Maud’s story comes to us from two different time periods, one of which starts in 1871 during her childhood and moves forward in linear fashion, and the other in 1939, when she comes to the set where The Wizard of Oz is being filmed to fulfill her beloved Frank’s dying wish; he has asked her to look after Dorothy. And though it initially means gaining access to the studio through duplicitous means, Maude befriends the unhappy but massively talented Judy Garland, and advocates for the intention behind her character, sometimes successfully, sometimes not.
I love this book hard. It has an unusual appeal, not a thriller nor a grab-you-by-the-hair page turner, but rather a strangely comforting novel, one that offers us the chance to follow Maud to another time and another place. I read several books at a time, and this one became my bribe to myself, the reward I could look forward to after completing increments of other books that I wouldn’t abandon, yet didn’t love as I did this one.
How many times have I reviewed a book favorably yet with the caveat that it isn’t bedtime reading, and maybe not good for mealtime either? Listen up. This one is good for both. It will make you appreciate your meal as you move through the hungry years of the Depression, and as you read about poor Judy being starved with lettuce and cottage cheese, her penalty for reaching puberty when the studio wanted her to look like a scrawny waif. And at bedtime, even the sorrowful passages are wonderfully hypnotic.
The love story between Maud and Frank is one for the ages, and without Letts, who would have guessed? Midway through the story I felt the need to know how closely the author kept to the truth, and I skipped to the notes at the end. I am delighted to say that this writer did a great deal of research, and she tells the reader specifically where and when she departs from historical fact for the sake of the story. The way that the character of Dorothy is invented, based on a string of actual events from the Baums’ lives, is riveting, and in fact had the author not told us otherwise, I would have assumed that much of it was made up, because it’s almost too cool to be true.
Letts develops her characters subtly, with never a caricature or stereotype. Though her settings are well drawn, this is a character based book if ever I read one, and it must truly have been a labor of love. I’ve read a dozen books between this one and the present, yet this is the title that makes me smile.
This beautifully crafted story is bound to rank high among the year’s best historical novels. Sweet, soothing, and highly recommended.
Maud Gage Baum is one of a kind. The godchild of Susan B. Anthony, child of first-wave feminist Matilda Joslyn Gage and an indulgent, progressively inclined father, she is unhampered by many of the traditional expectations that shackle women born during the American Civil War. But though her parents encourage her to develop her mind and talents, they have little prepared her for the wider world that greets her, and when she arrives at the women’s dormitory at Cornell University, she is considered peculiar by her classmates. She is a lonely young woman until her roommate sets her up with Frank, an eccentric, clever man whose whimsy equals her own.
My great thanks go to Net Galley and Random House Ballantine for the review copy, which I received free in exchange for this honest review. It will be available to the public tomorrow, February 12, just in time to be wrapped in red paper and given to the bookworm you adore.
Maud’s story comes to us from two different time periods, one of which starts in 1871 during her childhood and moves forward in linear fashion, and the other in 1939, when she comes to the set where The Wizard of Oz is being filmed to fulfill her beloved Frank’s dying wish; he has asked her to look after Dorothy. And though it initially means gaining access to the studio through duplicitous means, Maude befriends the unhappy but massively talented Judy Garland, and advocates for the intention behind her character, sometimes successfully, sometimes not.
I love this book hard. It has an unusual appeal, not a thriller nor a grab-you-by-the-hair page turner, but rather a strangely comforting novel, one that offers us the chance to follow Maud to another time and another place. I read several books at a time, and this one became my bribe to myself, the reward I could look forward to after completing increments of other books that I wouldn’t abandon, yet didn’t love as I did this one.
How many times have I reviewed a book favorably yet with the caveat that it isn’t bedtime reading, and maybe not good for mealtime either? Listen up. This one is good for both. It will make you appreciate your meal as you move through the hungry years of the Depression, and as you read about poor Judy being starved with lettuce and cottage cheese, her penalty for reaching puberty when the studio wanted her to look like a scrawny waif. And at bedtime, even the sorrowful passages are wonderfully hypnotic.
The love story between Maud and Frank is one for the ages, and without Letts, who would have guessed? Midway through the story I felt the need to know how closely the author kept to the truth, and I skipped to the notes at the end. I am delighted to say that this writer did a great deal of research, and she tells the reader specifically where and when she departs from historical fact for the sake of the story. The way that the character of Dorothy is invented, based on a string of actual events from the Baums’ lives, is riveting, and in fact had the author not told us otherwise, I would have assumed that much of it was made up, because it’s almost too cool to be true.
Letts develops her characters subtly, with never a caricature or stereotype. Though her settings are well drawn, this is a character based book if ever I read one, and it must truly have been a labor of love. I’ve read a dozen books between this one and the present, yet this is the title that makes me smile.
This beautifully crafted story is bound to rank high among the year’s best historical novels. Sweet, soothing, and highly recommended.
April 30, 2019
As every other review will tell you, this is an historical fiction detailing the background of The Wizard of Oz, both the writing of the book and the making of the movie. There were parts of this book I was a bit bored with, but there were more things I found really fascinating. Wasn't a fan of the early marriage days of Frank Baum and Maud Gage; it was occasionally too long winded, although Frank (author of the Wizard of Oz books) was very charming. Maud's mother, a free thinking suffragist and abolitionist, was a force to be reckoned with, and I was glad Maud took after her.
The best storyline, IMO, was Maud as an elderly woman going to MGM studios during the filming of the movie in 1939. She helped to keep the movie true to her long-deceased husband's vision. She and Judy Garland talked about the efforts to keep Judy thin via pills and 80 cigarettes a day, which her controlling mother condoned and encouraged. I most enjoyed how some of the story elements came to be, from Judy's gingham dress and ruby slippers to the Emerald City, from the scarecrow to the magical story behind Somewhere Over the Rainbow, which I've been humming all day. The after word read by the author was the icing on an already delicious treat.
The best storyline, IMO, was Maud as an elderly woman going to MGM studios during the filming of the movie in 1939. She helped to keep the movie true to her long-deceased husband's vision. She and Judy Garland talked about the efforts to keep Judy thin via pills and 80 cigarettes a day, which her controlling mother condoned and encouraged. I most enjoyed how some of the story elements came to be, from Judy's gingham dress and ruby slippers to the Emerald City, from the scarecrow to the magical story behind Somewhere Over the Rainbow, which I've been humming all day. The after word read by the author was the icing on an already delicious treat.
January 29, 2019
L. Frank Baum wrote a book that would prove to be one of the most beloved books of all times, “The Wizard of Oz”. What child doesn’t know this magical story? This new book by Dorothy Letts tells the story behind the story of the Land of Oz. The book centers on Maud Gage Baum, Frank’s wife, and fluctuates between the childhood and life of Maud starting when she was 10 years old in 1871 and the time period when the movie with Judy Garland was filmed and released.
Not only was Maud the daughter of a well-known suffragette, she was also one of the first few women admitted to Cornell University. When she met Frank Baum and fell in love, her degree no longer mattered and off she went with him as the wife of a traveling actor. Frank was a wonderful husband and proved to be just as wonderful a father to their four sons. What he wasn’t too successful at was making money. Though their life was lived frugally, Maud and Frank and their sons were happy and content. Frank always was able to enrich their lives by his entertaining antics. He was a dreamer and always dreamed of a better life for them.
The section of Maud’s involvement with the filming of the famous movie and her protective feelings for Judy Garland was very entertaining, though I’m not sure how factually accurate it was. Regardless, I found this part of the book fascinating, filled with little tidbits about the actors and Hollywood.
The best part of the book is seeing how bits and pieces of Maud and Frank’s lives ended up in his book. I thought that was very clever of the author and apparently is based on historical fact. I’ve gotten away from historical fiction but knew I wanted to read this one since I love the movie so much. I’m glad I requested it as it was very enjoyable and in the telling of the background of a magical story, it was quite magical itself.
Recommended.
This book was given to me by the publisher in return for an honest review.
Not only was Maud the daughter of a well-known suffragette, she was also one of the first few women admitted to Cornell University. When she met Frank Baum and fell in love, her degree no longer mattered and off she went with him as the wife of a traveling actor. Frank was a wonderful husband and proved to be just as wonderful a father to their four sons. What he wasn’t too successful at was making money. Though their life was lived frugally, Maud and Frank and their sons were happy and content. Frank always was able to enrich their lives by his entertaining antics. He was a dreamer and always dreamed of a better life for them.
The section of Maud’s involvement with the filming of the famous movie and her protective feelings for Judy Garland was very entertaining, though I’m not sure how factually accurate it was. Regardless, I found this part of the book fascinating, filled with little tidbits about the actors and Hollywood.
The best part of the book is seeing how bits and pieces of Maud and Frank’s lives ended up in his book. I thought that was very clever of the author and apparently is based on historical fact. I’ve gotten away from historical fiction but knew I wanted to read this one since I love the movie so much. I’m glad I requested it as it was very enjoyable and in the telling of the background of a magical story, it was quite magical itself.
Recommended.
This book was given to me by the publisher in return for an honest review.
August 5, 2020
I started this book reluctantly as I was never a big fan of The Wizard of OZ. I know, shame on me.
But I must say I enjoyed learning the back story as to how the book was born.
The book focuses on Maud Baum, L.Frank Baum’s wife. Through her we are introduced to a time (1870’s onward) when women had no rights. They were expected to be meek and not speak their minds. Lucky for Maud, her mother was a champion for women’s causes, including the right to vote.
Frank Baum was a delightful man whose imagination and theatrics always made him irresistible.
The book has a dual timeline- the past, when Maud and Frank marry and start their lives and 1939, and the making of the movie. Of course, we meet Judy Garland and are made aware of the horrible, disgusting conditions she is subjected to.
The author’s afterword confirms that much of the book was based on fact.
I found the book to be informative and enjoyable. I’ve always loved the song “ Somewhere Over the Rainbow” and I’m pretty sure I’ll be humming it for some time to come.
But I must say I enjoyed learning the back story as to how the book was born.
The book focuses on Maud Baum, L.Frank Baum’s wife. Through her we are introduced to a time (1870’s onward) when women had no rights. They were expected to be meek and not speak their minds. Lucky for Maud, her mother was a champion for women’s causes, including the right to vote.
Frank Baum was a delightful man whose imagination and theatrics always made him irresistible.
The book has a dual timeline- the past, when Maud and Frank marry and start their lives and 1939, and the making of the movie. Of course, we meet Judy Garland and are made aware of the horrible, disgusting conditions she is subjected to.
The author’s afterword confirms that much of the book was based on fact.
I found the book to be informative and enjoyable. I’ve always loved the song “ Somewhere Over the Rainbow” and I’m pretty sure I’ll be humming it for some time to come.
July 23, 2024
First I must confess to being a lifelong Wizard of Oz and Judy Garland fan. I don’t think I had even turned 4-years-old when I remember watching it in my Tante’s TV room in 1969. It was my first foray into movie musicals which led me to my adoration of Broadway. So I was a tad skeptical of this book. So much so that it took several months between the first chapter and reading the rest of the book.
The strength of this book is discovering the origins of L. Frank Baum’s classic modern fairytale. Like the author admits, we know so much about the movie and its star, yet little attention has been paid to the genius behind Dorothy, the Wizard, Tinman, Auntie Em and all the rest.
I was less enthused about the “behind the scenes” chapters of the Oz movie set. Those chapters felt overly drawn out or relied on snippets of hearsay or fictional conversations. Neither Judy nor Maude seem as lifelike as younger Maud and her family and imaginative husband.
I remember reading Mr Baum’s book in middle school and clearly recall my disappointment that the book wasn’t at all like the movie. I should have remembered the golden rule of good fiction— the movie is never as good.
I think I owe it to Frank and Maud to revisit the classic and let go of the movie’s influence. This book reminded me that magic is in the eye of the beholder... or reader. Finding the real Dorothy means revisiting the original. Who can resist a few more hours in the Land of Aahs?
(Reviewed 8/3/19)
The strength of this book is discovering the origins of L. Frank Baum’s classic modern fairytale. Like the author admits, we know so much about the movie and its star, yet little attention has been paid to the genius behind Dorothy, the Wizard, Tinman, Auntie Em and all the rest.
I was less enthused about the “behind the scenes” chapters of the Oz movie set. Those chapters felt overly drawn out or relied on snippets of hearsay or fictional conversations. Neither Judy nor Maude seem as lifelike as younger Maud and her family and imaginative husband.
I remember reading Mr Baum’s book in middle school and clearly recall my disappointment that the book wasn’t at all like the movie. I should have remembered the golden rule of good fiction— the movie is never as good.
I think I owe it to Frank and Maud to revisit the classic and let go of the movie’s influence. This book reminded me that magic is in the eye of the beholder... or reader. Finding the real Dorothy means revisiting the original. Who can resist a few more hours in the Land of Aahs?
(Reviewed 8/3/19)
March 31, 2019
Do you believe in magic? I think you just might after reading this book. The story The Wizard of Oz is a mystical childhood story that takes us on a journey only our imaginations could understand. Reading the story behind the story is equally as enchanting and magical. Elizabeth Letts writes a beautiful story that pulls you in and takes you on that mystical journey just the way The Wizard of Oz does. She artfully mixes fact and fiction to bring Dorothy completely to life. I really enjoyed the alternating time frames between past and present when the movie was being produced. When Frank wrote the book, he told Maud it was all in there, every last bit. Going back and forth between the time frames allows the reader to understand what all of that was and why Maud is so fiercely protective of Dorothy.
The author's extensive research and her passion for this well loved story shines through in this book. If you loved The Wizard of Oz then you will love this book. If you are ready to go on a nostalgic journey through childhood then you will love this book. It's magical, charming, enchanting, fascinating, mystical, original, adventurous, emotional, nostalgic, comforting and just a flat out well written book you will want to get your hands on!!!!! This is not my first Elizabeth Letts book and I cannot recommend her books enough. She knocks them all out of the park. Five well deserved stars!!!!!
My thanks to Elizabeth Letts, Random House/Ballantine Books and Netgalley for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
The author's extensive research and her passion for this well loved story shines through in this book. If you loved The Wizard of Oz then you will love this book. If you are ready to go on a nostalgic journey through childhood then you will love this book. It's magical, charming, enchanting, fascinating, mystical, original, adventurous, emotional, nostalgic, comforting and just a flat out well written book you will want to get your hands on!!!!! This is not my first Elizabeth Letts book and I cannot recommend her books enough. She knocks them all out of the park. Five well deserved stars!!!!!
My thanks to Elizabeth Letts, Random House/Ballantine Books and Netgalley for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
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