Lyman Frank Baum

L. Frank Baum (1856–1919) was an American author, best known for his enduring children's fantasy classic The Wonderful Wizard of Oz (1900). Born Lyman Frank Baum in Chittenango, New York, he tried many careers—chicken breeder, shopkeeper, actor, journalist, and traveling salesman—before turning to writing. His first book, Mother Goose in Prose (1897), was followed by the popular Father Goose, His Book (1899), which became the best-selling children's book of its year.

The Wonderful Wizard of Oz was an immediate success, and Baum went on to write thirteen more Oz books, including The Marvelous Land of Oz (1904), Ozma of Oz (1907), The Emerald City of Oz (1910), and Glinda of Oz (1920). He also wrote other fantasy works, such as The Life and Adventures of Santa Claus (1902), and published books under several pseudonyms, including Edith Van Dyne for the Aunt Jane's Nieces series.

Baum created a fairyland whose blend of American whimsy, adventure, and gentle satire has captivated generations of readers. He spent his final years in Hollywood, where he died in 1919, leaving a legacy that lives on through films, stage adaptations, and the lasting popularity of the land of Oz.