L. Frank Baum's timeless classic The Wonderful Wizard of Oz was the and#64257;rst uniquely American fairy tale. A combination of enchanting fantasy and piercing social commentary, this remarkable story has entertained and beguiled readers of all ages since it was and#64257;rst published in 1900. Ray Bradbury writes in his Introduction, "Both [Baum and Shakespeare] lived inside their heads with a mind gone wild with wanting, wishing, hoping, shaping, dreaming," and it is this same hunger that makes all of us continue to seek out the story of Oz-and be nourished by it. This Modern Library Paperback Classic is set from the text of the definitive and#64257;rst edition and includes the New York Times review of that edition as well as the original Preface by the author.
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