The Historian's Wizard of Oz: Reading L. Frank Baum's Classic as a Political and Monetary Allegory Annotated Edition

by Ranjit S. Dighe (Author)

13 ratings

ISBN-13: 978-0275974190

ISBN-10: 0275974197

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The Historian's Wizard of Oz synthesizes four decades of scholarly interpretations of L. Frank Baum's classic children's novel as an allegory of the Gilded Age political economy and a comment on the gold standard. The heart of the book is an annotated version of The Wizard of Oz that highlights the possible political and monetary symbolism in the book by relating characters, settings, and incidents in it to the historical events and figures of the 1890s, the decade in which Baum wrote his story. Dighe simultaneously values the leading political interpretations of Oz as useful and creative teaching tools, and consolidates them in a sympathetic fashion; yet he rejects the commonly held, and by now well-debunked, view that those interpretations reflect Baum's likely motivations in writing the book. The result is a unique way for readers to acquaint themselves with a classic of children's literature that is a bit different and darker than the better-known film version.

Students of history and economics will find two great stories: the dramatic rise and fall of monetary populism and William Jennings Bryan and the original rendering of a childhood story that they know and love. This study draws on several worthy versions of the Oz-as-Populist-parable thesis, but it also separates the reading of Baum's book in this manner from Baum's original intentions. Despite an incongruence with Baum's intent, reading the story as a parable continues to provide a remarkable window into the historical events of the 1890s and, thus, constitutes a tremendous teaching tool for historians, economists, and political scientists. Dighe also includes a primer on gold, silver, and the American monetary system, as well as a brief history of the Populist movement.

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Editorial Reviews

Review

[e]ven though the story does not really work all that well as an allegory, the allegory works well as a tool for teaching the history.

―

Science Fiction Studies

[a] useful resource for Oz scholars and teachers, with its helpful historical background information, bibliographic references, selection of contemporary images, and excellent overview of academia's Populist-parable theory.

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Utopian Studies

[A] very useful and engaging book that introduces and explains the context under which Baum's book was written and provides some of the basis for the economic and political interpretations that have emerged over the years. The wonderful Wizard of OZ can be read for pure delight by a child or alternatively can become part of a scholarly debate over the events and significance of economic and public policy- a testimony to the power of words and the importance of metaphors to understanding complex relationships. For students and teachers, for novice and seasoned scholars alike, I heartily recommend Dighe's interesting and entertaining book.

―

EH.Net book Review

Review

"…a comprehensive treatment of the relationship between The Wonderful Wizard of Oz and the political events in America just before the turn of the century….In one volume, Dighe assembles varied source material to help the reader see the real (and imagined) links between Oz and Populism. The Historian's Wizard of Oz is a welcome addition to the literature about Baum and politics."

Michael Gessel, Editor-in-Chief, The Baum Bugle

Publisher ‏ : ‎ Praeger; Annotated edition (June 21, 2002)
Language ‏ : ‎ English
Paperback ‏ : ‎ 192 pages
ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0275974197
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0275974190
Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 10.4 ounces
Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 6 x 0.41 x 9 inches

Best Sellers Rank: #259,348 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #43 in Literary Theory
- #60 in American Literature (Books)
- #63 in History of Books

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Ranjit S. Dighe

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Ranjit Dighe was born and raised in the Washington, DC area. He has lived for about as long in upstate New York, where he teaches about American economic history, money and banking, and financial crises. From his initial research on wages in the Great Depression, he has branched into alcohol prohibition and the beer industry, the bank holiday of 1933, the early arrival of Keynesian economics in the United States, the economic outlook of legendary New York Gov. Al Smith, and using novels to teach American social and economic history. When not working, he enjoys reading, movies, binge-watching TV, live music, playing and singing at open mic nights, following the Baltimore Orioles, and spending time with his wife, daughter, cats, and dog.

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P. L. Rogers

Great Educator Resource!

Reviewed in the United States on June 10, 2018

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This is a great resource for educators. Used it for my 7th grade GT class when teaching allegories in The Wizard of Oz.

Helpful

Alan G. Elze

Alternative views of WWOZ

Reviewed in the United States on April 1, 2013

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If you've wondereda bout alternative views of WWOZ, this is it. Covers the Populist movement very well and how Baum could have gotten material for WWOZ from that time period.

2 people found this helpful

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A Great Intro to the First Great Depression.

Reviewed in the United States on September 1, 2018

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You'll never look at Dorothy the same again.

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Ann P.

There's a Story Behind Everything

Reviewed in the United States on December 17, 2014

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Very interesting take on the Wizard of Oz. I had heard this information many times, but ,it was the first time I saw it in print.

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jace

Ruined the movie for the rest of my life, ...

Reviewed in the United States on April 22, 2015

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Ruined the movie for the rest of my life, but it is an interesting book to understand a confusing time.

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tkowens11

What I needed

Reviewed in the United States on March 13, 2016

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Daughter needed it for school, good price

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Rose-Ann

Great condition

Reviewed in the United States on October 9, 2015

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Book arrived in great condition

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S. G.

Good background information

Reviewed in the United States on May 3, 2008

Great background on a subject that escapes most history textbooks. The author takes a "middle ground" and asserts that Baum is not really taking an active stance on the Gold/Silver standard, but merely using analogies from the political climate at the times. The theory makes sense, but a deep reading of the Wizard of Oz then seems to take on merely academic curiosity.

5 stars for the background of the story, but less 1 star for the seemingly academic (pointless??) analysis of this nice story as it relates to the Gold/Siver standard.

Of course, other writers have completely divergent opinions on Baum and his writings, so I would also get some books by those authors to even out the analysis a bit.

3 people found this helpful

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The Historian's Wizard of Oz: Reading L. Frank Baum's Classic as a Political and Monetary Allegory Annotated Edition

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