The Royal Book of Oz
๐ About This Book
The Royal Book of Oz (1921) is the fifteenth in the series of Oz books, and the first by Ruth Plumly Thompson, to be written after L. Frank Baum's death. Although Baum was credited as the author, it was written entirely by Thompson. Beginning in the 1980s, some editions have correctly credited Thompson, [1] although the cover of the 2001 edition by Dover Publications credits only Baum. The original introduction claimed that the book was based on notes by Baum, but this has been disproved. Baum's surviving notes, known as "An Oz Book" are known from four typewritten pages found at his publisher's, but their authenticity as Baum's work has been disputed. Even if genuine, they bear no resemblance to Thompson's book.
๐ Summary
The Royal Book of Oz, published in 2018 in a 138-page edition, represents a fascinating milestone in the expansive history of Oz literature. Originally released in 1921, this text stands as the fifteenth installment in the beloved series of Oz books, and it holds the distinction of being the very first title written after the death of the original creator, L. Frank Baum. Although the book was initially published with Baum credited as the author, historical and literary investigation has proven that it was actually written entirely by Ruth Plumly Thompson. This unique volume invites readers to explore the complicated legacy of collaborative and posthumous authorship within children's literature. When the book first hit shelves, the original introduction claimed that the narrative was based on surviving notes left behind by Baum. However, this claim has since been thoroughly disproved. Scholars have examined Baum's actual surviving notes, which are known as An Oz Book and consist of just four typewritten pages found at his publisher's office. Even the authenticity of these specific typewritten pages has been a matter of dispute among literary historians. Furthermore, experts have noted that even if those brief pages are genuinely from Baum's hand, they bear absolutely no resemblance to the actual plot and style of Thompson's finished book. The complexities surrounding the book's attribution continued for decades. Beginning in the 1980s, some publishing editions began to correctly credit Ruth Plumly Thompson as the sole author of the text. Despite this corrective shift in publishing practices, confusion has lingered well into the modern era. For instance, the cover of a 2001 edition published by Dover Publications chose to credit only Baum, perpetuating the historical misattribution. The 2018 edition offers contemporary readers an opportunity to examine this literary artifact with full awareness of its intriguing background. By looking past the historic marketing deception of the original introduction, readers can appreciate Thompson's early entry into the Oz universe and understand the publishing dynamics of the era. The text serves as a vital bridge between the classic Baum era and the long-running continuation penned by Thompson. It highlights the fascinating ways in which popular literary franchises are sustained, marketed, and reassessed over time by publishers, scholars, and eager fans alike.
๐ฏ Key Lessons
โ๏ธ Pros & Cons
โ Pros
Provides a fascinating look into the history of the Oz series continuation.
Highlights the literary history surrounding Ruth Plumly Thompson's entry into the franchise.
Shed light on the discrepancies between original marketing claims and publishing facts.
Offers a concise page count of 138 pages for a quick historical overview.
โ ๏ธ Cons
Historical publishing practices misattributed the true author on the cover for many years.
The connection to Baum's original work has been entirely disproved.
โ FAQ
When was The Royal Book of Oz originally published? +
It was originally published in 1921, with a subsequent edition released in 2018.
Who actually wrote The Royal Book of Oz? +
It was written entirely by Ruth Plumly Thompson, though L. Frank Baum was originally credited.
Was the book really based on notes by L. Frank Baum? +
No, the claim in the original introduction that the book was based on Baum's notes has been disproved.
What are An Oz Book notes? +
They are four surviving typewritten pages found at Baum's publisher's, though their authenticity and connection to Thompson's book are disputed.
When did publishers start correctly crediting Ruth Plumly Thompson? +
Some editions began correctly crediting Thompson starting in the 1980s, though some later editions still credited only Baum.
