What is Finding Dorothy about?
Finding Dorothy is a historical novel by Elizabeth Letts about the true story behind The Wizard of Oz. It centers on Maud Gage Baum, the wife of L. Frank Baum, and how her life and family helped shape the classic story.
Is Finding Dorothy based on a true story?
Yes. It is a novel, but it is built on real people and events from the life of Maud Gage Baum and her husband, L. Frank Baum, the author of The Wonderful Wizard of Oz.
Who was the real Dorothy from The Wizard of Oz?
Finding Dorothy by Elizabeth Letts explores the real people and memories that went into creating Dorothy, as seen through the eyes of Maud Gage Baum, L. Frank Baum's wife.
Is Finding Dorothy about Judy Garland?
Partly. Alongside Maud Gage Baum's own life, the novel follows the making of the 1939 MGM film, where Judy Garland played Dorothy. Maud's story and Judy's story are woven together.
Will Finding Dorothy make me feel like a kid again?
For anyone who grew up with The Wizard of Oz, yes. Finding Dorothy takes you back to the story you loved as a child and shows you the real lives and heartbreaks behind it.
Who will enjoy Finding Dorothy?
Fans of The Wizard of Oz, readers who love historical fiction about real women behind famous stories, and book clubs looking for a warm, discussable novel.
Is Finding Dorothy like Wicked?
Both are about the world behind The Wizard of Oz, but Finding Dorothy is grounded in real history. It tells the story of Maud Gage Baum, L. Frank Baum's wife, and the real people who inspired Oz.
Is Finding Dorothy a good gift?
It is a favorite gift for Wizard of Oz fans, mothers and daughters, and readers who love historical fiction about real women.
Who was Maud Gage Baum?
Maud Gage Baum was the wife of L. Frank Baum, the author of The Wonderful Wizard of Oz. Finding Dorothy by Elizabeth Letts tells her story.
Who was Maud Gage Baum's mother?
Historically, her mother was Matilda Joslyn Gage, a leading suffragist. She is part of the story in Finding Dorothy.
Is Finding Dorothy fiction or nonfiction?
Finding Dorothy is a novel, based on real people and events.
When was Finding Dorothy published?
It was published by Ballantine Books in 2019.
Do I need to know The Wizard of Oz to enjoy Finding Dorothy?
No, but fans of the book or the 1939 movie will get extra joy from discovering the real-life connections.
Is Finding Dorothy like The Paris Wife?
Yes. Like The Paris Wife, it is a novel about the wife of a famous writer, told from her point of view.
Is Finding Dorothy like Loving Frank or The Aviator's Wife?
Readers of those novels about women beside famous men often enjoy Finding Dorothy, about Maud Gage Baum and L. Frank Baum.
Is Finding Dorothy a good book for mothers and daughters?
Yes. Family, and especially mothers and daughters, are at the center of the story.
What are the themes of Finding Dorothy?
Family, marriage, resilience, the power of stories, and the real life that can lie behind a beloved fantasy.
Is Finding Dorothy a good book club pick?
Yes. It is a warm, discussable novel. Book clubs can request a visit from Elizabeth Letts through her Book Clubs page.
Is Finding Dorothy a good gift for a Wizard of Oz fan?
It is one of the best gifts for a Wizard of Oz fan: the true-life story behind the classic.
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