The Wonderful Wizard of Oz
L. Frank Baum (1856–1919)
novel · 1900 · 24 chapters · about 40,000 words
How we estimate the level
We compare average sentence length and book vocabulary with the course words through this level. This is an estimate, not a test of your level.
Synopsis
A cyclone carries Dorothy and her dog Toto from a farm in Kansas to the magical Land of Oz. To get home, she follows the yellow brick road to the Emerald City to ask the great Wizard for help. On the way she meets a Scarecrow who wants brains, a Tin Woodman who wants a heart and a Cowardly Lion who wants courage. Before the Wizard will help them, they must face the Wicked Witch of the West, and they learn that the Wizard is not what he seems.
About this book
This is the first full novel in the library and a good step after the short stories: about 40,000 words in 24 short chapters, so you can read one chapter a day. The estimated level is B1. The vocabulary is mostly everyday English, but the sentences are longer than in the A2 books (about 16 words on average) and there is a lot of description. The story repeats its main ideas often (brains, a heart, courage, home), which helps you follow it. If you know the 1939 film, you will notice differences: in the book Dorothy's magic shoes are silver, not red, and the journey has many more adventures.
Opening excerpt
Dorothy lived in the midst of the great Kansas prairies, with Uncle Henry, who was a farmer, and Aunt Em, who was the farmer’s wife. Their house was small, for the lumber to build it had to be carried by wagon many miles.Key vocabulary
a very strong wind that turns in a circle
a large, flat area of land covered with grass, in North America
a man who can do magic
a woman who can do magic, often bad magic in stories
a figure made of old clothes and straw that keeps birds away from a field
the ability to think and understand
the ability to do something even when you are afraid
a green jewel
Lines from the book
“There is no place like home.”“for brains do not make one happy, and happiness is the best thing in the world.”“All you need is confidence in yourself.”About the author
L. Frank Baum (1856–1919) was an American writer who worked as a newspaper editor, a salesman and a theatre writer before he found success with children's books. After The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, he wrote thirteen more novels about the Land of Oz because readers kept asking for them.
Frequently asked questions
What level of English do I need for The Wonderful Wizard of Oz?
We estimate B1. Most of the words are common, but the sentences are longer and there is more description than in the A2 books. Strong A2 readers can try it one chapter at a time.
How long does it take to read?
The book has about 40,000 words. At a learner's pace that is around four hours of reading, or about ten minutes for each of the 24 chapters.
Is the book different from the film?
Yes. The 1939 film changes many details: in the book Dorothy's shoes are silver, the trip to the Emerald City and the journey south have more adventures, and Oz is a real place, not a dream.
Is this the original text?
Yes. It is L. Frank Baum's original text from 1900, with his introduction and American spelling. The edition contains the text without the pictures.
