Lyman Frank Baum was born in 1856 in Chittenango, New York. Educated mostly at home due to ill health, he was encouraged by his wealthy father to pursue his early interests in journalism and playwriting. At a young age he started his first magazine, established his own theatre and worked for many newspapers and periodicals before turning to children's fiction. The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, published in 1900, was a bestselling book and launched the hugely successful series of 'Oz' titles. Baum continued writing for the rest of his life and died in 1919 with over one hundred books to his name.