The Tin Woodman of Oz

by L. Frank Baum, Mint Editions (Contribution by)

Overview

The Tin Woodsman of Oz (1918), a bestseller upon its publication, was a welcome victory for its author L. Frank Baum. After nearly a decade of declining book sales, the twelfth book in Baum’s Land of Oz series—and the last to be published in his lifetime—was a critical and commercial success that reinvigorated public interest in his iconic work.

In the safety of his palace in Winkie Country—where he was made Emperor after the Wizard of Oz gave him a heart—the Tin Woodman exchanges nostalgic tales of the old days with his friend the Scarecrow. When a wanderer named Woot suddenly appears, he asks the Tin Woodman how he came to be made of Tin. This sparks the memory of his love for the Munchkin maiden Nimmie Amee, which, aided by the pointed questions of Woot, encourages the Tin Woodman to risk everything he has gained for the only thing he ever truly wanted. Traveling into Gillikin Country, the trio encounters the Loons of Loonville and fall captive to the giantess of Yoop Valley, who transforms them into animals. Narrowly managing to escape—and taking with them the young fairy Polychrome—the group will need the help of Dorothy and Princess Ozma to restore them to their true forms. As The Tin Woodsman of Oz reaches its conclusion, the Tin Woodsman must face the truth of his origin, learning about the nature of love, and himself, in the process.

From the mind of master fantasist L. Frank Baum, The Tin Woodsman of Oz is a story of love, friendship, and the will for adventure. Long overshadowed by the film, Baum’s series is required reading for children, adults, and anyone who refuses to let life lose its flavor of fantasy.

This edition of L. Frank Baum’s The Tin Woodsman of Oz is a classic of children’s literature reimagined for modern readers.

Since our inception in 2020, Mint Editions has kept sustainability and innovation at the forefront of our mission. Each and every Mint Edition title gets a fresh, professionally typeset manuscript and a dazzling new cover, all while maintaining the integrity of the original book.

With thousands of titles in our collection, we aim to spotlight diverse public domain works to help them find modern audiences. Mint Editions celebrates a breadth of literary works, curated from both canonical and overlooked classics from writers around the globe.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781513267579
Publisher:	Mint Editions
Publication date:	12/01/2020
Series:	Mint Editions (The Children's Library)
Pages:	126
Product dimensions:	5.00(w) x 8.00(h) x 0.30(d)
Age Range:	8 - 13 Years

About the Author

L. Frank Baum (1856-1919) was an American author of children’s literature and pioneer of fantasy fiction. He demonstrated an active imagination and a skill for writing from a young age, and was encouraged by his father who bought him the printing press with which he began to publish several journals. Although he had a lifelong passion for theater, Baum found success with his novel The Wonderful Wizard of Oz (1900), a self-described “modernized fairy tale” that led to thirteen sequels, inspired several stage and radio adaptations, and eventually, in 1939, was immortalized in the classic film starring Judy Garland.

Date of Birth:

May 15, 1856

Date of Death:

May 6, 1919

Place of Birth:

Chittenango, New York

Place of Death:

Hollywood, California

Education:

Attended Peekskill Military Academy and Syracuse Classical School

Read an Excerpt

Woot the Wanderer

The Tin Woodman sat on his glittering tin throne in the handsome tin hall of his splendid tin castle in the Winkie Country of the Land of Oz. Beside him, in a chair of woven straw, sat his best friend, the Scarecrow of Oz. At times they spoke to one another of curious things they had seen and strange adventures they had known since first they two had met and become comrades. But at times they were silent, for these things had been talked over many times between them, and they found themselves contented in merely being together, speaking now and then a brief sentence to prove they were wide awake and attentive. But then, these two quaint persons never slept. Why should they sleep, when they never tired?

And now, as the brilliant sun sank low over the Winkie Country of Oz, tinting the glistening tin towers and tin minarets of the tin castle with glorious sunset hues, there approached along a winding pathway Woot the Wanderer, who met at the castle entrance a Winkie servant.

The servants of the Tin Woodman all wore tin helmets and tin breastplates and uniforms covered with tiny tin discs sewed closely together on silver cloth, so that their bodies sparkled as beautifully as did the tin castle-and almost as beautifully as did the Tin Woodman himself.

Woot the Wanderer looked at the man servantall bright and glittering-and at the magnificent castle-all bright and glittering-and as he looked his eyes grew big with wonder. For Woot was not very big and not very old and, wanderer though he was, this proved the most gorgeous sight that had ever met his boyish gaze.

"Who lives here?" he asked.

" The Emperor of the Pinkies,who is the famous Tin Woodman of Oz," replied the servant, who had been trained to treat all strangers with courtesy.

"A Tin Woodman I How queer l" exclaimed the little wanderer.

"Well, perhaps our Emperor is queer," admitted the servant; " but he is a kind master and as honest and true as good tin can make him; so we, who gladly serve him, are apt to forget that he is not like other people."

" May I see him` " asked Woot the Wanderer, after a moment's thought.

"If it please you to wait a moment, I will go and ask him," said the servant, and then he went into the hall where the Tin Woodman sat with his friend the Scarecrow. Both were glad to learn that a stranger had arrived at the castle, for this would give them something new to talk about, so the servant was asked to admit the boy at once.

By the time Woot the Wanderer had passedthrough the grand corridors -- all lined with ornamental tin -- and under stately tin archways and through the many tin rooms all set with beautiful tin furniture, his eyes had grown bigger than ever and his whole little body thrilled with amazement. But, astonished though he was, he was able to make a polite bow before the throne and to say in a respectful voice: " I salute your Illustrious Majesty and offer you my humble services."

"Very good! " answered the Tin Woodman in his accustomed cheerful manner. " Tell me who you are, and whence you come."

"I am known as Woot the Wanderer," answered the boy, "and I have come, through many travels and by roundabout ways, from my former home in a far corner of the Gillikin Country of Oz."

"To wander from one's home," remarked the Scarecrow, " is to encounter dangers and hardships, especially if one is made of meat and bone. Had you no friends in that corner of the Gillikin Country? Vas it not homelike and comfortable?"

To hear a man stuffed with straw speak, and speak so well, quite startled Woot, and perhaps he stared a bit rudely at the Scarecrow. But after a moment he replied:

"I had home and friends, your Honorable Strawness, but they were so quiet and happy and comfortable that I found them dismally stupid. Nothing in that corner of Oz interested me, but I believed that in other parts of the country I would find strange people and see new sights, and so I set out upon my wandering journey. I have been a wanderer for nearly a full year, and now my wanderings have brought me to this splendid castle."

"I suppose," said the Tin Woodman, " that in this year you have seen so much that you have become very wise."

"No," replied Woot, thoughtfully, " I am not at all wise, I beg to assure your Majesty. The more I wander the less I find that I know, for in the Land of Oz much wisdom and many things may be learned."

"To learn is simple. Don't you ask questions?" inquired the Scarecrow.

"Yes; I ask as many questions as I dare; but some people refuse to answer questions."

"That is not kind of them," declared the Tin Woodman." If one does not ask for information he seldom receives it; so I, for my part, make it a rule to answer any civil question that is asked me."

"So do I," added the Scarecrow, nodding.

Editorial Reviews

"It was great fun to go back and revisit the story of The Wonderful Wizard of Oz through this amazing book… The book cover illustration is fantastic, very pleasing to the eye and great for kids. The Wonderful Wizard of Oz deserves no less than 5 out of 5 stars.” - Rachel Bustin, Parenting blogger

From the Publisher