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

by Ranjit S. Dighe

Overview

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.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9798216096467
Publisher:	Bloomsbury Publishing
Publication date:	06/30/2002
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
Pages:	184
File size:	296 KB
Age Range:	7 - 17 Years

About the Author

RANJIT S. DIGHE is Assistant Professor of Economics at the State University of New York at Oswego. His specialty is American macroeconomic history, and he has written extensively on American labor markets between the world wars.
RANJIT S. DIGHE is Assistant Professor of Economics at the State University of New York at Oswego. His specialty is American macroeconomic history, and he has written extensively on American labor markets between the world wars.

Table of Contents

Preface
Introduction: The Colors of Money
"If I Only Had a Brain": A Primer on Gold, Silver, and the American Monetary System
"Populism Will Put Them to Sleep": A Shory History of the Populist Movement of the 1890s
L. Frank Baum's The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, With Annotations
Appendix A: Another Fiat-Money Metaphor, From The Marvelous Land of Oz
Appendix B: William Jennings Bryan's "Cross of Gold" Speech
Appendix C: The Quantity Theory of Money
Bibliography
Index

What People are Saying About This

Hugh Rockoff

"Ranjit Dighe's new book will be of immense interest to scholars seeking to understand Baum and his classic, and to teachers who wish to use Baum's story as a platform for discussing one of the crucial periods in American political and economic history. Although written in a straightforward and engaging style, the book is based on an impressive understanding of the primary and secondary sources. Professor Dighe has chosen judiciously among conflicting interpretations, developed new interpretations of his own, and dealt sensitively with the thorny issue of Baum's intentions. The Historian's Wizard of Oz will be the definitive work for a long time to come."

David Parker

"With this book, Ranjit Dighe combines the economist's knowledge of monetary matters with the historian's sensibilities of the past to help us understand the context of America's classic children's story. His annotations are clear and concise, fair and balanced. Put simply, this is the best commentary we have on L. Frank Baum's Wonderful Wizard of Oz."

Gene Clanton

"Readers will benefit mightily from the expertise this historical-minded economist brings to bear on the famous children's tale. It is with great pleasure and confidence therefore that I recommend The Historian's Wizard of Oz."

Michael Gessel Editor-in-ChiefThe Baum Bugle 

...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

"...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."

Gene Clanton author Congressional Populism and the Crisis of the 1890s (1998)

Readers will benefit mightily from the expertise this historical-minded economist brings to bear on the famous children's tale. It is with great pleasure and confidence therefore that I recommend The Historian's Wizard of Oz .

Hugh Rockoff Professor of Economics Rutgers University

Ranjit Dighe's new book will be of immense interest to scholars seeking to understand Baum and his classic, and to teachers who wish to use Baum's story as a platform for discussing one of the crucial periods in American political and economic history. Although written in a straightforward and engaging style, the book is based on an impressive understanding of the primary and secondary sources. Professor Dighe has chosen judiciously among conflicting interpretations, developed new interpretations of his own, and dealt sensitively with the thorny issue of Baum's intentions. The Historian's Wizard of Oz  will be the definitive work for a long time to come.

David Parker History Department Kennesaw State University

With this book, Ranjit Dighe combines the economist's knowledge of monetary matters with the historian's sensibilities of the past to help us understand the context of America's classic children's story. His annotations are clear and concise, fair and balanced. Put simply, this is the best commentary we have on L. Frank Baum's Wonderful Wizard of Oz.

Editorial Reviews

Dighe (economics, State U. of New York-Oswego) began using the popular novel in his class on US economic history as an opening to the Populism of the 1890s, but found some problems with the notion of it as a political allegory relating to the gold controversy of the time. The core of his work is a highly annotated edition of pointing out political references that readers are left to interpret as they will. Annotation c. Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)

Booknews

[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.” —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

“Ranjit S. Dighe has written a fine book that will serve both the practical purpose of helping teachers use the Wizard of Oz in the classroom and the scholarly purpose of helping economic historians use the historical reading of the Wizard of Oz.” —Jourbanal of Economic History

From the Publisher