The Wonderful Wizard of Oz - Introduction

The Wonderful Wizard of Ozby L. Frank Baum | 1900When a cyclone sweeps young Dorothy and her dog Toto from their gray Kansas farm to the magical Land of Oz, she accidentally kills the Wicked Witch of the East and is sent on a journey down the yellow brick road to find the Great Wizard Oz, who she hopes can send her home. Along the way she befriends a Scarecrow longing for brains, a Tin Woodman longing for a heart, and a Cowardly Lion longing for courage, each joining her in hopes that Oz will grant their wishes. After many adventures and dangers, including the poppy field, the flying monkeys, and the melting of the Wicked Witch of the West, they discover that Oz is merely a humbug, an ordinary man from Omaha, who nevertheless gives the companions what they already possessed within themselves, while Dorothy ultimately learns from the Good Witch Glinda that her silver shoes had the power all along to carry her home to Aunt Em with just three clicks of her heels.