The Marvelous Land of Oz · Chapter
Author's Note explained
L.
What happens
L. Frank Baum explains the origin of this book, describing how letters from children—especially one little girl named Dorothy—prompted him to write a sequel to The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, fulfilling his promise after receiving over a thousand requests.
Themes in this chapter
Friendship and Loyalty
Baum's promise to his young readers demonstrates a bond of loyalty, as he commits to writing a sequel in response to their persistent requests.
Transformation and Change
The author's note marks a transition from the original story to a new adventure, hinting at the changes and growth to come in the sequel.
Characters to notice
- Dorothy
A little girl who made a long journey to request a sequel about the Scarecrow and the Tin Woodman.
- Scarecrow
One of the characters children most frequently asked Baum to write more about.
- Tin Woodman
The other character children eagerly requested to see again in a new story.
Key passages
“After the publication of The Wonderful Wizard of Oz I began to receive letters from children, telling me of their pleasure in reading the story and asking me to 'write something more' about the Scarecrow and the Tin Woodman.”
Following the release of The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, children wrote to Baum expressing their enjoyment and requesting further adventures featuring the Scarecrow and the Tin Woodman.
This establishes the direct reader demand that motivated the sequel.
“Finally I promised one little girl, who made a long journey to see me and prefer her request—and she is a 'Dorothy,' by the way—that when a thousand little girls had written me a thousand little letters asking for the Scarecrow and the Tin Woodman I would write the book.”
Baum made a pledge to a young visitor named Dorothy that he would write the sequel once he received a thousand letters from girls requesting more about the Scarecrow and the Tin Woodman.
This anecdote highlights the personal connection between Baum and his readers and the origin of his commitment.
“Either little Dorothy was a fairy in disguise, and waved her magic wand, or the success of the stage production of The Wizard of Oz made new friends for the story.”
Baum humorously suggests that either Dorothy had magical powers or the popularity of the stage adaptation helped generate the flood of letters he received.
This reflects Baum's playful tone and acknowledges the role of the stage play in expanding the story's audience.