Intertwining story of the life of Frank Baum who wrote The Wizard of Oz and his wife Maud Baum whose mother was a famous suffragette and the making of the movie in 1939. Beginning in late 1800s, the Baums lived in NY, then staked a claim in South Dakota, then moved to Chicago where he was in sales before he wrote the book. Later they moved to Hollywood. In 1939, twenty years after he died, MGM made the movie with Judy Garland. Maud Baum visited the set often to try to keep the movie script true to her husband's story. Apart from those broad outlines which are true, I'm not sure how much of the rest of the book was fiction rather than based in fact but it was a good story about interesting times.
A fascinating look at not just Maud Baum, the wife of L Frank Baum, who wrote the classic 'The Wonderful Wizard of Oz'. This book gives a little background on the making of the film, how strongly Maud believed in keeping the movie true to her husband's book. But even more heartbreaking, the way Judy Garland was treated, pills, cigarettes, and worst of all, abuse at the hands of the men in charge of the film. Even if you've never seen the film (is there anyone out there who hasn't?) you will find this book a fascinating story.
