L. Frank Baum

The Marvellous Land of Oz (Puffin Classics)

Few fantasy lands have captured our hearts and imaginations as has the marvelous land of Oz. For over four generations, children and adults alike have reveled in the magical adventures of its beloved folk. Now, for the first time in over seventy years, the second book about Oz is presented here in the same deluxe format as the rare first edition, complete with all 16 of the original John R. Neill color plates, its colorful pictorial binding, and the many black-and-white illustrations that bring it to joyous life. First issued in 1904, L. Frank Baum's The Marvelous Land of Oz is the story of the wonderful adventures of the young boy named Tip as he travels throughout the many lands of Oz. Here he meets with our old friends the Scarecrow and Tin Woodman, as well as some new friends like Jack Pumpkinhead, the Wooden Sawhorse, the Highly Magnified Woggle-Bug, and the amazing Gump. How they thwart the wicked plans of the evil witch Mombi and overcome the rebellion of General Jinjur and her army of young women is a tale as exciting and endearing today as it was when first published over eighty years ago. Afterword by Peter Glassman. A facsimile of the rare first edition, complete with all 16 original color plates, a colorful pictorial binding, and over 125 of Neill's drawings. A Books of Wonder(R) Classic.

The Marvelous Land of Oz

The Wizard of Oz was disappointing, and The Land of Oz amplified the issues I had with its predecessor. The characters lacked appeal, coming across as overly juvenile and making poor decisions over trivial matters. 

While the book is praised for its portrayal of females and transgender characters, I found it problematic. The group of girls who seize power are portrayed as shallow, only caring about jewels and cake. The transgender character's personality shift from masculine to demure and shy feels like a stereotypical gender trope rather than a realistic portrayal.

Overall, The Land of Oz has dampened my enthusiasm for continuing the 14-book series.

Liana

The Wizard of Oz was disappointing, and The Land of Oz amplified the issues I had with its predecessor. The characters lacked appeal, coming across as overly juvenile and making poor decisions over trivial matters. 

While the book is praised for its portrayal of females and transgender characters, I found it problematic. The group of girls who seize power are portrayed as shallow, only caring about jewels and cake. The transgender character's personality shift from masculine to demure and shy feels like a stereotypical gender trope rather than a realistic portrayal.

Overall, The Land of Oz has dampened my enthusiasm for continuing the 14-book series.

Lara Engle

Another charming fantasy in the land of Oz. The message here is at times surprisingly feminist, although it is muddled in the end. The overriding message of contentment retains its charm, however. Of course, I am particularly enamored by the army of girls wielding knitting needles, despite their brattiness and lack of fortitude.

Sam Pulliam

Somewhere in my mom’s house, there’s a low-quality VHS animated film adaptation of this book that I didn’t really like but still watched quite a bit and that’s the movie’s problem because I really enjoy this story. In this story, Tip lives with the evil Mombi until he has to escape so that she doesn’t turn him to stone. He travels Oz and meets the Scarecrow while he’s in the middle of a crisis. Adventure ensues. This book is definitely less iconic than the first and a little more silly but I still appreciate the sense of adventure and magic. I also think there were a lot of strong women in this story and the reveal at the end could bring up an interesting conversation but because it’s the twist, I can’t really say much here.

Tom Turner

** spoiler alert **
           You know a book is from another era when your main antagonists of the book are an army of girls using knitting needles as weapons and and one point get scared our of the castle they've conquered by the appearance of a mouse. In no way an I condemning the book for this, far from it! Indeed I believe there is some profeminism going on here, it's just that it's being written in an era where feminism was still in its infancy, (Indeed, having done some research. The Suffrage Movement began the same year this book was published, in Germany.) and by a man aged 48. So while there are more progressive images of women's liberation, it can easily be forgiven for good intentions.

Putting this to one side. I is the book any good? The answer is yes. It is not as good as it's predecessor, but then that is the iconic entry in the series, I hadn't actually heard of this one before starting it. I had assumed Ozma of Oz (Book 3) was the follow up to The Wonderful Wizard of Oz. I believe this was because Ozma was when Baum decided it was going to intentionally be an on going series, and not random books set in the same world. This definitely make sense. The Marvelous Land of Oz feels far more like side note, and like the Character of the Gump, hobbled together from random ideas (though there is an aspect of that in Wizard, it feels it more here.) but the wit and charm Baum brings to his prose glosses over those issues. Not quite as good as it's precursor, but still remarkably good.

The missing Princess Ozma is released from an evil spirit cast by a witch at the direction of Queen Jinjur.

The Land of Oz

Danielle Crain

Most of the Oz books of 4 stars from me and this one will produce no-less.

My three children and I listened on Librivox. 

If I wasn't in love with the Scarecrow before this book, I certainly was after this.

In the Land of Oz, Tip lives with the evil sorcerer Mombi. He leaves (runs) away from home and has many adventures in Oz. The Scarecrow and Tin Woodman make a re-appearance, and Tip meets Jack Pumpkinhead, The Wooden Sawhorse, a Wogglebug and the Gump. We did find the end of the story to be a bit of an awkward transition, and at one point my 11yo ran screaming from the room (as he does when things get uncomfortable) but as usual we were given a very satisfying ending. 

There is so much dry humor in this book that I missed as a child. As an adult reading it again I'm finding I'm laughing through the story with my kids who clearly have a better sense of humor than I ever did.

Hannah Alexander 

Bria Bryant

Hannah

Anna Bold

Mudita

Marloes

Annie

Stephanie Ridiculous

Table of Contents Tip Manufactures a Pumpkinhead The Marvelous Powder of Life The Flight of the Fugitives Tip Makes an Experiment in Magic The Awakening of the Saw-horse Jack Pumpkinhead's Ride to the Emerald City His Majesty the Scarecrow Gen. Jinjur's Army of Revolt The Scarecrow Plans an escape The Journey to the Tin Woodman A Nickel-Plated Emperor Mr. H. M. Woggle-Bug, T. E. A Highly Magnified History Old Mombi indulges in Witchcraft The Prisoners of the Queen The Scarecrow Takes Time to Think The Astonishing Flight of the Gump In the Jackdaw's Nest Dr. Nikidik's Famous Wishing Pills The Scarecrow Appeals to Glinda the Good The Tin-Woodman Plucks a Rose The Transformation of Old Mombi Princess Ozma of Oz The Riches of Content

The Marvellous Land of Oz (Puffin Classics)

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