THE WONDERFUL WIZARD OF OZ is an American classic, and will probably astonish those who know only the movie, which took considerable liberties with the story in its adaptation. Author L. Frank Baum tells a good tale, has a lively imagination, and writes from the heart, particularly when it comes to explaining why one would want to leave a beautiful place like Oz for the barren Kansas prairie. While Dorothy and her friends must endure many hardships in their quest before things reach their happy conclusion, the plot moves along quickly, and with plenty of shrewd observations. The book was a huge hit as soon as it was published in 1900 and was followed by more than a dozen sequels.