Lyman Frank Baum

Lyman Frank Baum is an American writer, independent film maker, and actor who was born on May 15, 1856 in Chittenango, New York from a Scottish Irish mother named Cynthia Stanton who is the direct descendant of Thomas Stanton, the founder of the Stonington, Connecticut, and a German father named Benjamin Ward Baum. From 1880 to 1902 he became a newspaper-man and began writing a series of books in which he made an original fairyland, a world of fantastic characters and light-hearted adventures, and the Land of Oz, and from this books, the most famous was the â€Å"The Wonderful Wizard of Oz† written in 1900 (L. Frank Baum, Encarta). Baum wrote 13 sequels, 9 other fantasy novels, 82 short stories, over 200 poems, and many miscellaneous writing, which resulted to numerous attempts to bring back his work to the screen and stage. Because of Baum’s love for theatre, often to his financial detriment, he often support elaborate musicals. Baum adapted the â€Å"The Wonderful Wizard of Oz† as a ‘musical extravaganza’ named The Wizard of Oz in 1901, and before Baum’s death he wrote an additional thirteen more books all about Oz (L. Frank Baum, Encarta). The book became the best selling children’s book after its initial publication in 1900. Baum was originally a Methodist but later he joined the Episcopal Church to be included in community theatrical arts, and later he was encouraged by his wife in 1897 to become a Theosophist. According to records, Baum’s belief is reflected or can be seen in his writings. After Baum’s death in May 6, 1919, several writers continued his series, which resulted to huge volumes. Works Cited â€Å"L. Frank Baum.† 2007.   L. Frank Baum – MSN Encarta, 12 January 2008