Glinda of Oz facts for kids
First edition cover
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| Author | L. Frank Baum (posthumously) |
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| Illustrator | John R. Neill |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
| Series | Oz books |
| Genre | Children's novel |
| Publisher | Reilly & Lee |
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Publication date
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July 10, 1920 |
| Media type | Print (hardcover) |
| Pages | 279 pp (first edition, hardcover) |
| Preceded by | The Magic of Oz |
| Followed by | The Royal Book of Oz |
| Text | Glinda of Oz at Wikisource |
Glinda of Oz is the fourteenth book in the famous Land of Oz series. It was written by L. Frank Baum, a well-known children's author. The book was published on July 10, 1920. It was the last Oz book written by Baum himself. Other authors continued the series later. In this story, Dorothy and Ozma go on an adventure. They try to stop a war between two groups, the Flatheads and the Skeezers. When things go wrong, Glinda and her friends must rescue them. The book was dedicated to Baum's son, Robert Stanton Baum.
Contents
Story of Glinda of Oz
Princess Ozma and Dorothy travel to a faraway part of the Land of Oz. They want to stop a war between two groups: the Skeezers and the Flatheads. The leaders of these groups are very stubborn. They are determined to fight, even with Ozma and Dorothy trying to stop them.
Trapped on the Glass Island
Ozma and Dorothy cannot prevent the war. They find themselves trapped on the Skeezers' island. This island is covered in glass. It has been magically sunk to the bottom of its lake. Their situation gets worse. The warlike queen Coo-ee-oh is holding them captive. She is the only one who knows how to bring the island back up. But she loses her battle and turns into a swan. She forgets all her magic. This leaves everyone on the island, including Ozma and Dorothy, stuck at the bottom of the lake.
The Rescue Mission
Ozma and Dorothy send for help from Glinda. Glinda gathers several magicians and magical helpers. They must find a way to raise the island to the surface. Their goal is to free everyone trapped underwater.
About the Book's Creation
The story of Glinda of Oz has an interesting history. The book you can read today is a bit different from Baum's first version.
Changes in the Manuscript
In Baum's original handwritten story, a character named Red Reera first appeared as a scary skeleton. Its bones were wired together. It had glowing red eyes. But in the printed book, Red Reera first appears as a gray ape wearing an apron and a lace cap. This change made the character seem funny instead of frightening. Baum likely made this change after talking with his editors. Other small changes were made by an unknown editor. These changes did not always make the story better.
Inspiration for the Story
The idea for the Skeezers' submerged city might have come from a real place. Baum and his family visited Egypt in 1906. They saw the Temple of Isis at Philae. This temple was partly underwater. This real-life sight may have inspired the magical underwater city in the book.
Film Adaptation
A short film called The Land of Oz was made in 2015. This film adapts Chapter 8 of Glinda of Oz. This chapter explains the history of Oz. It also shows the meeting between Dorothy, Ozma, and Coo-ee-oh. In the film, Coo-ee-oh is shown as a King, not a Queen.
