|
Book Home  Books Information Wicked - novel
Wicked (novel)
Based upon the writings of L. Frank Baum, Wicked: The
Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West (ISBN 0060987103) is
a revisionist look at the land and characters of Oz that most people
are familiar with through Baum's The Wonderful Wizard of Oz as well
as the 1939 movie The Wizard of Oz. The novel, written by Gregory
Maguire and published in 1995, takes virtually everything that we
know about Oz and turns it on its head.
The novel is a political, social, and ethical commentary
on what good and evil really are. The story is about Elphaba, the
misunderstood green-skinned girl who grows up to become the infamous
Wicked Witch of the West. It tells of her time at Shiz University,
as well as her journey to the Emerald City and The Vinkus, among other
places in Oz. The book explains Elphaba's motives and examines her
true personality. Many of the same Oz characters are found here including
The Wizard, Glinda (here called Galinda), The Wicked Witch of the
East (here called Nessarose), and Dorothy. Maguire also introduces
several new characters including Fiyero, Madame Morrible, Doctor Dillamond,
and Boq (although a similar character did appear in Baum's novels).
Unlike the popular 1939 movie and Baum's writings, this
novel is not meant for children. It contains sexual scenes and language
that catches some readers by surprise. Wicked, the hit Broadway musical
based upon the novel, is also very different from the book. While
the musical is meant to be enjoyed by all ages, the book is clearly
intended for adult readers.
The musical is a lavish production that originally starred
Idina Menzel as Elphaba, Kristin Chenoweth as Galinda, and Joel Grey
as The Wizard.
|
|
