Today's blog post is brought to you by the letter O!
Ozma of Oz was L. Frank Baum's 3rd novel as Royal Historian of Oz. Written in 1907, it continued John R. Neill's illustrating relationship with Mr. Baum
Interesting to note that Ozma looks a bit older now. I'm especially fond of this color plate of Her Majesty, Princess Ozma; Ruler of Oz, that appears in the opening pages.
The story will look a bit familiar because the 1985 Disney Wizard of Oz sequel, Return to Oz, contained many elements from this fine story.
Dorothy makes her way back to Oz in a chicken crate with a hen named Billina while on their way to Australia.
Once she finds dry land, the fun begins!
There's even the conveniently placed Lunch Pail Tree.
And then there's the Wheelers!
What a creature!! He leaves'em choking on his dust!
Soon, Dorothy finds Tik-Tok and winds him up. Any of this looking familiar yet?
Now, this part of the story didn't make it into the Disney film, though I sorely wish it had.
Mr. Tinker, one of the builders of Tik-Tok, builds a ladder to the Moon and vanishes from Oz. He is also the Head Tinker in Disney's new Oz film, Oz the Great and Powerful, which would have been before he left for the Moon.
Then there's the capture of the Wheeler and off to Langwidere's Castle with said Wheeler in tow.
And then there were all those heads!!!
All this in a single day!!! What a World of Oz it is! And wouldn't you know it, Ozma shows up, traversing the Deadly Desert on a rolling carpet in a chariot pulled by the Cowardly Lion and the Hungry Tiger the next day and then the adventures really begin!
After a time, there are nomes...
Nome Kings...
And poison eggs! Oh my!!!
And finally, Glinda makes an appearance, as does the Magic Belt, which Dorothy loves to use...
The owls must be thinking..."Give a hoot, don't pollute!"
James C. Wallace II
Royal Liaison of Oz
I have never read 'Ozma of Oz'. I will have to check this one out. :)
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A to Z April Blogging Challenge
http://mauldinfamily1.wordpress.com/2013/04/18/p-is-for-pandora/
I love the pictures! Never heard of this before.
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