The History and Promises Behind 'The Wizard of Oz' - Cinematical

I've never known much about Baum beyond his history with the Hotel Del Coronado (he stayed there while writing, and designed the light fixtures!), so Meghan O'Rourke's Slate article on Baum was a treat. I'll leave you to read it for yourselves, ... If the suffragettes and Gilded Age are all over the original book, the movie is all about The Great Depression. It served as a mental vacation and inspiration to those Americans still being kicked around by it in 1939. ...