Lyman Frank Baum (May 15, 1856 - May 6, 1919) was an American author best known for his children's books, particularly The Wonderful Wizard of Oz and its sequels. He wrote 14 novels in the Oz series, plus 41 other novels (not including four lost, unpublished novels), 83 short stories, over 200 poems, and at least 42 scripts. He made numerous attempts to bring his works to the stage and screen; the 1939 adaptation of the first Oz book became a landmark of 20th-century cinema. Born and raised in upstate New York, Baum moved west after an unsuccessful stint as a theater producer and playwright. He and his wife opened a store in South Dakota and he edited and published a newspaper. They then moved to Chicago, where he worked as a newspaper reporter and published children's literature, coming out with the first Oz book in 1900. While continuing his writing, among his final projects he sought to establish a movie studio focused on children's films in Los Angeles, California.

There are several questions you would like to ask at the very beginning of this history. First: Who is the Monarch of Mo? And why is he called the Magical Monarch? And where is Mo, anyhow? And why have you never heard of it before? And can it be reached by a railroad or a trolley-car, or must one walk all the way? These questions I realize should be answered before we (that "we" means you and the book) can settle down for a comfortable reading of all the wonders and astonishing adven-tures I shall endeavor faithfully to relate.

I dare say there are several questions you would like to ask at the very beginning of this history. First: Who is the Monarch of Mo? And why is he called the Magical Monarch? And where is Mo, anyhow? And why have you never heard of it before? And can it be reached by a railroad or a trolley-car, or must one walk all the way? These questions I realize should be answered before we (that "we" means you and the book) can settle down for a comfortable reading of all the wonders and astonishing adven-tures I shall endeavor faithfully to relate.

In "The Surprising Adventures of the Magical Monarch of Mo and His People" by L. Frank Baum, readers are transported to the whimsical land of Mo where talking animals, magical creatures, and enchanted landscapes abound. Written in a charming and light-hearted tone, the book takes on a fairy-tale quality with its colorful characters and imaginative settings, making it a delightful read for both children and adults alike. Reflecting the literary context of Baum's other works, such as "The Wonderful Wizard of Oz," this book showcases the author's talent for crafting engaging narratives filled with wonder and adventure. L. Frank Baum, known for his creative storytelling and captivating worlds, drew inspiration from his own vivid imagination and desire to entertain readers of all ages. His background as a playwright and children's book author shines through in this enchanting tale, which has become a classic in the realm of fantasy literature. I highly recommend "The Surprising Adventures of the Magical Monarch of Mo and His People" to anyone looking for a charming and magical escape from reality. Baum's storytelling prowess and the enchanting world of Mo will captivate readers and leave them craving more of his whimsical tales.

We are delighted to publish this classic book as part of our extensive Classic Library collection. Many of the books in our collection have been out of print for decades, and therefore have not been accessible to the general public. The aim of our publishing program is to facilitate rapid access to this vast reservoir of literature, and our view is that this is a significant literary work, which deserves to be brought back into print after many decades in its original form. The contents of the vast majority of titles in the Classic Library have been scanned from the original works. To ensure a high quality product, each title has been meticulously hand curated by our staff. Our philosophy has been guided by a desire to provide the reader with a book that is as close as possible to ownership of the original work. We hope that you will enjoy this wonderful classic work, and that for you it becomes an enriching experience.

*This Book is annotated (it contains a detailed biography of the author). *This book has been checked and corrected for spelling errors. The Surprising Adventures of the Magical Monarch of Mo and His People is the first full-length children's fantasy book by L. Frank Baum. Originally published in 1899 as A New Wonderland, Being the First Account Ever Printed of the Beautiful Valley, and the Wonderful Adventures of Its Inhabitants, the book was reissued in 1903 with a new title in order to capitalize upon the alliterative title of Baum's successful The Wonderful Wizard of Oz. The book is only slightly altered-Mo is called Phunniland or Phunnyland, but aside from the last paragraph of the first chapter, they are essentially the same book. Mo is much more of a nonsense book than Oz, bringing to mind Lewis Carroll's Alice's Adventures in Wonderland, which is probably what the original title referred to. Each chapter is a different story, unlike Baum's other books, which are full length stories. They do, however have a general throughline, and can be seen as an episodic novel.