Finding Dorothy: A Novel
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Finding Dorothy: A Novel Audible Audiobook – Unabridged

Elizabeth Letts (Author, Narrator), Ann Marie Lee (Narrator), Random House Audio (Publisher)
4.6 4.6 out of 5 stars 4,484 ratings
Editors' pick Best Literature & Fiction
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This richly imagined novel tells the story behind The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, the book that inspired the iconic film, through the eyes of author L. Frank Baum’s intrepid wife, Maud.

“A breathtaking read that will transport you over the rainbow and into the heart of one of America’s most enduring fairy tales.” (Lisa Wingate, author of Before We Were Yours)

Hollywood, 1938: As soon as she learns that M-G-M is adapting her late husband’s masterpiece for the screen, 77-year-old Maud Gage Baum sets about trying to finagle her way onto the set. Nineteen years after Frank’s passing, Maud is the only person who can help the producers stay true to the spirit of the book - because she’s the only one left who knows its secrets.

But the moment she hears Judy Garland rehearsing the first notes of “Over the Rainbow,” Maud recognizes the yearning that defined her own life story, from her youth as a suffragette’s daughter to her coming of age as one of the first women in the Ivy League, from her blossoming romance with Frank to the hardscrabble prairie years that inspired The Wonderful Wizard of Oz. Judy reminds Maud of a young girl she cared for and tried to help in South Dakota, a dreamer who never got her happy ending. Now, with the young actress under pressure from the studio as well as her ambitious stage mother, Maud resolves to protect her - the way she tried so hard to protect the real Dorothy.

The author of two New York Times best-selling nonfiction books, The Eighty-Dollar Champion and The Perfect Horse, Elizabeth Letts is a master at discovering and researching a rich historical story and transforming it into a pause-resister. Finding Dorothy is the result of Letts’s journey into the amazing lives of Frank and Maud Baum. Written as fiction but based closely on the truth, Elizabeth Letts’s new book tells a story of love, loss, inspiration, and perseverance, set in America’s heartland.

Praise for Finding Dorothy

“In some ways reminiscent of Jerry Stahl’s excellent I, Fatty, Letts’ Finding Dorothy combines exhaustive research with expansive imagination, blending history and speculation into a seamless tapestry.... It’s a testament to Letts’ skill that she can capture...that same emotion we have all felt sometime over the last 80 years while listening to ‘Over the Rainbow.’” (BookPage, starred review)

Previous page
  1. Listening Length
    13 hours and 58 minutes
  2. Author
    Elizabeth Letts
  3. Narrator
    Ann Marie Lee, see all
  4. Audible release date
    February 12, 2019
  5. Language
    English
  6. Publisher
    Random House Audio
  7. ASIN
    B07KB4LS5C
  8. Version
    Unabridged
  9. Program Type
    Audiobook
  10. See all details
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Product details

Listening Length 13 hours and 58 minutes
Author Elizabeth Letts
Narrator Elizabeth Letts, Ann Marie Lee
Whispersync for Voice Ready
Audible.com Release Date February 12, 2019
Publisher Random House Audio
Program Type Audiobook
Version Unabridged
Language English
ASIN B07KB4LS5C
Best Sellers Rank #8,010 in Audible Books & Originals (See Top 100 in Audible Books & Originals)
#32 in Biographical Fiction (Audible Books & Originals)
#67 in Biographical Historical Fiction
#118 in Biographical Fiction (Books)

Customer reviews

4.6 out of 5 stars
4.6 out of 5
4,484 global ratings
You'll find Dorothy and so much more
5 Stars
You'll find Dorothy and so much more
I can't recommend this book highly enough to do it justice. Letts brings the reader into the world of L. Frank and Maud Baum to tell their story and the story behind Baum's The Wizard of Oz. Then she juxtaposes that story with the story of Maud Baum's influence on Judy Garland the making of the movie adaptation of The Wizard of Oz. Maud was the youngest daughter of Matilda Joslyn Gage and Letts also brings the noted suffragist to life to show her as both a loving mother and force of nature. It's compelling and historically accurate. The picture shows Judy Garland with Maud Baum reading The Wonderful Wizard of Oz.
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Top reviews from the United States

deanie1
5.0 out of 5 stars Fascinating and moving
Reviewed in the United States on April 25, 2024
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A must read if you've ever seen and loved The Wizard of Oz! I was moved to tears to read of the story of Maud and Frank Baum. There isn't a whole lot of Judy Garland in the book, but that was OK, because the story of the Baums was absolutely beautiful, historical, and inspiring. Five enthusiastic stars!!
One person found this helpful
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Carla R
5.0 out of 5 stars What an amazing story!
Reviewed in the United States on May 5, 2024
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If I thought I loved the Wiard of Oz before I read this I was so wrong. I am overwhelmed by how much more I do now. What an inspiring experience!!
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Jessica L Kaplavka
5.0 out of 5 stars Storyline
Reviewed in the United States on March 24, 2024
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The development of this storyline made reading it easy and engaging. Found myself stopping to research characters further; a sign of established genuine interest. It’s clear that the story was well researched and yet the style of writing is by no means dragged down in an over abundance of facts. I love using the Wizard of Oz as a teaching strategy in my classroom and the late 19th century is a preferred time period of focus for me. To be able to blend the two worlds was awesome.
2 people found this helpful
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S.Jones
5.0 out of 5 stars Absolutely loved this book!
Reviewed in the United States on March 30, 2024
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First-Elizabeth Letts is just an incredible storyteller. This is the second book of read of hers and I intend to read everything she’s written.
I came into this book as a fan of the film a Wizard of Oz
After finishing it, I am now a fan of its author L Frank Baum , his incredible wife, and the story behind the book and the film . I truly did not want this book to end.
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Rikki
4.0 out of 5 stars A must read for OZ fans
Reviewed in the United States on May 9, 2024
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At times I felt that when this book went back to the 1800s there was just too much detail. However, I was most intrigued to understand how the life of Frank and Maude Baum was incorporated into the movie so I hung in there. I am grateful that I did as I truly enjoyed this novel.
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Kindle Customer
3.0 out of 5 stars The book was damaged
Reviewed in the United States on November 2, 2023
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The delivery was fine. The box was in perfect condition, so I'm thinking the book was dropped and the corner was damaged before it was packaged. Disappointed because I was giving this as a gift. I'll just keep it for myself. The corner was bent and the cover was ripped.
One person found this helpful
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mz johansen
5.0 out of 5 stars What A Wonderful, Fun Book!
Reviewed in the United States on February 10, 2024
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If you, like me, have always enjoyed “The Wizard of Oz” book and movie then I believe that you too will most assuredly enjoy reading “Finding Dorothy”! I honestly had not read anything about the book, but I had somehow added it to my “tbr” (to be read) list. I borrowed it from my library and knew, from the first page that I was going to enjoy reading the book!

It made me want to meet L. Frank Baum, his wife Maud Baum, and her mother Matilda! I felt like I “knew” these characters and I wished them well as I turned the pages.

There is some excellent material in the afterward and it is well worth the small bit of time it takes read. I am a historical fiction fan and one my favorite things bout the genre is fact checking along with reading the book. I learned a lot by doing that!
2 people found this helpful
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Curleysue
4.0 out of 5 stars Just okay…
Reviewed in the United States on February 28, 2024
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I had heard this was an interesting book but I found it a bit ho-hum….things were left unanswered. In the epilogue, the author writes to read other books for more info. I was a bit disappointed in that. Never found out what happened to Julia.
Anyway, I hung in there and finished it but I really wanted more…
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Top reviews from other countries

Lynne
5.0 out of 5 stars Finding Dorothy
Reviewed in Canada on August 22, 2023
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Be sure to read “The Wizard Of Oz” after reading the book!!
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Catherine Adam
5.0 out of 5 stars Great for Oz fans
Reviewed in Germany on October 29, 2023
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Lovely read for those of us who love all things Oz. Really great example of historical fiction and it was wonderful to find out all the things in the story that were true.
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A J GEDDES
5.0 out of 5 stars A Fantastic Read
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on January 5, 2020
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I'm not particularly a fan of The Wizard of Oz film or the books, but I am a fan of the process of creating works of art. This novel captures perfectly the heyday of Hollywood and paints a wonderful picture of Baum himself. The undoubted star of the novel is Maud Gage (Baum), who supported her husband throughout his various careers. In short, I loved it.
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Peta Johnson
5.0 out of 5 stars Wonderful novel
Reviewed in Australia on March 19, 2021
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Highly recommended.
Thankyou Elizabeth for collating historical information and producing this, hard to put down, story of the family behind the Wizard of Oz.
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Kristina Anderson
4.0 out of 5 stars Great Book
Reviewed in Canada on August 31, 2023
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So who doesn't know the story of The Wizard of Oz? It is a favourite for many and the movie has been watched over and over again. This story is a little different. It focuses on the life of L. Frank Baum (the author of the book The Wizard of Oz) and his wife Maud Gage Baum. There is a dual timeline in the book. The early life of Maud from 1871, and Hollywood from 1938.
I enjoyed reading the book and getting a glimpse of behind the scenes of the movie production. It was a fun book to read and I would highly recommend it. I gave it a 4 out of 5 star rating. Read it and enjoy it.
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