Synopsis
A take-off on "The Wizard of Oz," "Wicked" describes the attempt of a witch named Elphaba to live forthrightly in a totalitarian Oz.

Details
Publication Date:	1996-10-01
Illustrator:	Douglas Smith
Edition Description:	Reprint

Size
Height:	8.5 in
Width:	5.8 in
Thickness:	1.2 in
Weight:	16.8 oz

Publisher's Note

When Dorothy triumphed over the Wicked Witch of the West in L. Frank Baum's classic tale, we heard only her side of the story. But what about her arch-nemesis, the mysterious witch? Where did she come from? How did she become so wicked? And what is the true nature of evil?

Gregory Maguire creates a fantasy world so rich and vivid that we will never look at Oz the same way again. Wicked is about a land where animals talk and strive to be treated like first-class citizens, Munchkinlanders seek the comfort of middle-class stability and the Tin Man becomes a victim of domestic violence. And then there is the little green-skinned girl named Elphaba, who will grow up to be the infamous Wicked Witch of the West, a smart, prickly and misunderstood creature who challenges all our preconceived notions about the nature of good and evil.

An astonishingly rich re-creation of the land of Oz, this book retells the story of Elphaba, the Wicked Witch of the West, who wasn't so wicked after all. Taking readers past the yellow brick road and into a phantasmagoric world rich with imagination and allegory, Wicked just might change the reputation of one of the most sinister characters in literature. Line illustrations.

Industry Reviews
"I fell quickly and totally under the spell of this remarkable, wry, and fully realized story....Elphaba--the Wicked Witch of the West--is as scary as ever, but this time in a different way; She's undeniably human. She's us."
Wally Lamb

"A glorious frolic, a feast of language, a study of good and evil, and a massive history of the fabulous land of Oz."
Jane Langton

"Funny and serious, pulsing with imaginative energy and encompassing political thriller and moral reflection, this is truly a fabulous novel."
Press Materials - Jill P. Walsh

"Starting with the 'Wizard of Oz' material, Gregory Maguire has added greater depths and different facets, creating something altogether different and unique. It's a magnificent work, a genuine tour de force."
Press Materials - Lloyd Alexander

"Would that all books with this much innate consumer appeal were also this good. And vice versa."
Los Angeles Times Book Review - Robert Rodi (10/29/1996)

"[The heroine's] journey...is a captivating, funny, and perceptive look at destiny, personal responsibility, and the not-always-clashing beliefs of faith and magic."
Kirkus Reviews (08/15/1996)