Finding Dorothy by Elizabeth Letts receives praise for its compelling blend of historical fiction and behind-the-scenes look at the creation of The Wizard of Oz. Readers appreciate the strong character portrayal of Maud Gage Baum. Some critiques focus on pacing issues and an overabundance of historical detail. Overall, it offers an engaging and insightful narrative.

A reader who enjoys Finding Dorothy by Elizabeth Letts likely has a passion for historical fiction and a love for classic cinema, particularly The Wizard of Oz. Fans of The Paris Wife by Paula McLain and Z: A Novel of Zelda Fitzgerald by Therese Anne Fowler will appreciate the blend of fact and fiction, as well as the strong female perspective.

Finding Dorothy by Elizabeth Letts is a dual timeline novel following Maud Gage Baum, wife of L. Frank Baum. In the 1800s timeline, Maud pursues education at Cornell, navigates societal challenges, marries Frank, and faces hardships before he publishes The Wonderful Wizard of Oz. In the 1939 timeline, Maud is on the set of the movie adaptation, striving to preserve Frank's legacy and protect Judy Garland, ultimately learning that people matter more than story accuracy.

Nostalgic / Contemplative / Heartwarming / Mysterious / Inspirational

- The author Elizabeth Letts was inspired to write Finding Dorothy after learning about the friendship between Maud Gage Baum and Judy Garland on the set of the 1939 film The Wizard of Oz.
- Finding Dorothy interweaves historical facts with fiction, exploring the real-life marriage of L. Frank Baum and Maud Gage Baum and their ties to women's suffrage in early 20th century America.
- An interesting fact about Elizabeth Letts is that she is also a former certified nurse-midwife, and her experience in the medical field adds depth to her character portrayals and storytelling.

Elizabeth Letts

Adult

Novel

Fiction

Guide

Study Guide

title

content

Overview

Get ready to explore Finding Dorothy and its meaning. Our full analysis and study guide provides an even deeper dive with character analysis and quotes explained to help you discover the complexity and beauty of this book.

Finding Dorothy Summary and Study Guide

Background

Finding Dorothy Background

chapter

chapterType

section

Chapter Summaries & Analyses

Chapters 1-7

Finding Dorothy Chapters 1-7 Summary & Analysis

Chapters 8-13

Finding Dorothy Chapters 8-13 Summary & Analysis

Chapters 14-17

Finding Dorothy Chapters 14-17 Summary & Analysis

Chapters 18-23

Finding Dorothy Chapters 18-23 Summary & Analysis

Chapters 24-28

Finding Dorothy Chapters 24-28 Summary & Analysis

character

Character Analysis

Finding Dorothy Character Analysis

theme

Themes

Finding Dorothy Themes

Symbols & Motifs

Finding Dorothy Symbols & Motifs

quote

citation

Important Quotes

Finding Dorothy Important Quotes

primaryCharacter

Essay Topics

Finding Dorothy Essay Topics

Book Club Questions

Finding Dorothy Book Club Questions

Finding Dorothy

Before You Read

Reviews & Readership

Review Roundup

Who Should Read Finding Dorothy?

Reading Age

Book Details