Mary Louise

L. Frank Baum (1856–1919) tried many careers before he found his calling: actor, breeder of fancy chickens, shopkeeper and newspaper editor in South Dakota, and travelling salesman. In Chicago he began writing for children, and in 1900, with illustrations by W. W. Denslow, published The Wonderful Wizard of Oz.

Its success led to thirteen more Oz books, written partly because children demanded them, and Baum moved to Hollywood, where he even founded a film company. He wanted to write American fairy tales that entertained without frightening children with moral lessons.