Wicked

The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West

By Gregory Maguire

ISBN:  9-780061-350962

First published 1995

519 pages

Publisher: harpercollins.com

Cover Art by Wicked LLC

Illustrations by Douglas Smith

3/5 Stars

An adult book with fantastical sketch board images by Douglas Smith (5/5 Stars).

The first illustration is a map of Oz, different but very recognisable with the four countries and the Emerald City in the center.

In this interpretation by Gregory Maguire, Gillikin is a leading industrial country, with Munchkinldand inhabited by poor farmers. Quadling country is barely inhabited and Winkie country is endless grassland – all protected by the troops of the ‘City of Emeralds’.

Ozma has been deposed and the Wizard is gradually restricting liberty and freedom.

The first chapter begins with the birth of Elphaba, in the land of the poor peasant farmers, first daughter of a rich mother and itinerant priest. Elphaba goes to university and becomes an underground rebel. She seeks to save Animals from laws destined to reduced them to the status of animals. Life is hard for her as a revolutionary, as her skin colour makes her easy to spot.

An allegory simple to spot at times, it is carried by the breadth and depth of the vision, The Land of Oz re-imagined is a great invention.