|
Lyman Frank Baum (May 15, 1856 – May 6, 1919), better known by his pen name L. Frank Baum, was an American author chiefly known for his children's books, particularly ''The Wonderful Wizard of Oz''. He wrote thirteen novel sequels, nine other fantasy novels, and a host of other works (55 novels in total, plus four "lost works", 83 short stories, over 200 poems, an unknown number of scripts,〔42 titles are known yet extent writings have yet to be found.〕 and many miscellaneous writings), and made numerous attempts to bring his works to the stage and screen. His works anticipated such century-later commonplaces as television, augmented reality, laptop computers (''The Master Key''), wireless telephones (''Tik-Tok of Oz''), women in high risk, action-heavy occupations (''Mary Louise in the Country''), and the ubiquity of advertising on clothing (''Aunt Jane's Nieces at Work''). ==Childhood and early life== Baum was born in Chittenango, New York in 1856 into a devout Methodist family. He had German, Scots-Irish, and English ancestry, and was the seventh of nine children of Cynthia Ann (née Stanton) and Benjamin Ward Baum, only five of whom survived into adulthood.〔Rogers, p. 1.〕 "Lyman" is the name of his father's brother, but he always disliked it and preferred his middle name "Frank".〔Hearn, Introduction, ''The Annotated Wizard of Oz'', p. xv n. 3.〕 Benjamin Baum was a wealthy businessman, ultimately gained by providing barrels during the Pennsylvania oil rush. L. Frank Baum grew up on his parents' expansive estate called Rose Lawn, which he fondly recalled as a sort of paradise.〔Rogers, pp. 2–3.〕 Rose Lawn was located in Mattydale, New York.〔The house burned down in 1958 and became the site of a skating rink, itself later abandoned. For photos of the present day site, see: http://www.freethought-trail.org/site.php?By=SiteType&Page=2&Site=64〕 He was a young, sickly, and daydreaming child, tutored at home with his siblings. From the age of 12, he spent two miserable years at Peekskill Military Academy but, after being severely disciplined for daydreaming, he had a possible psychogenic heart attack and was allowed to return home.〔Rogers, pp. 3–4.〕 Baum started writing early in life, possibly prompted by his father buying him a cheap printing press. He had always been close to his younger brother Henry (Harry) Clay Baum who helped in the production of ''The Rose Lawn Home Journal''. The brothers published several issues of the journal, which included advertisements; they may have sold issues. By the age of 17, Baum established a second amateur journal called ''The Stamp Collector'', printed an 11-page pamphlet called ''Baum's Complete Stamp Dealers' Directory'', and started a stamp dealership with friends.〔Rogers, pp. 4–5.〕 At 20, Baum took on the national craze of breeding fancy poultry. He specialized in raising the Hamburg. In March 1880, he established a monthly trade journal ''The Poultry Record'', and in 1886, when Baum was 30 years old, his first book was published: ''The Book of the Hamburgs: A Brief Treatise upon the Mating, Rearing, and Management of the Different Varieties of Hamburgs''.〔Rogers, pp. 6–7; Hearn, ''Annotated Wizard'', pp. xvii–xviii.〕 Baum had a flair for being the spotlight of fun in the household, including during times of financial difficulties. His selling of fireworks made the Fourth of July memorable. His skyrockets, Roman candles, and fireworks filled the sky, while many people around the neighborhood would gather in front of the house to watch the displays. Christmas was even more festive. Baum dressed as Santa Claus for the family. His father would place the Christmas tree behind a curtain in the front parlor so that Baum could talk to everyone while he decorated the tree without people managing to see him. He maintained this tradition all his life.〔Rogers, pp. 49.〕 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「L. Frank Baum」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
|