The Wizard of Oz as American Myth: A Critical Study of Six Versions of the Story, 1900-2007
by Alissa Burger
Cover Artist: Detail of The Wizard of Oz cover design,
illustrated by W.W. Denslow.
Review by Mel Jacob
McFarland & Company Paperback ISBN/ITEM#: 9780786466436
Date: July 2012 List Price $35.00 Amazon US / Amazon UK / Show Article /
From official release/information:
About the Book: Since the publication of L. Frank Baum's The Wonderful Wizard of Oz in 1900, authors, filmmakers, and theatrical producers have been retelling and reinventing this uniquely American fairy tale. This volume examines six especially significant incarnations of the story: Baum's original novel, the MGM classic The Wizard of Oz (1939), Sidney Lumet's African American film musical The Wiz (1978), Gregory Maguire's novel Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West (1995), Stephen Schwartz and Winnie Holzman's Broadway hit Wicked: A New Musical (2003), and the SyFy Channel miniseries Tin Man (2007). A close consideration of these works demonstrates how versions of Baum's tale are influenced by and help shape notions of American myth, including issues of gender, race, home, and magic, and makes clear that the Wizard of Oz narrative remains compelling and relevant today.
(Source: McFarland & Company)