L. Frank Baum (1856–1919) was an American writer, actor, and journalist, best known as the creator of the Land of Oz. He published The Wonderful Wizard of Oz in 1900, a work that became an immediate classic of children's literature and gave rise to an extensive series of thirteen sequels, including The Marvelous Land of Oz. His style blends fantasy, humour, and social critique, and his characters have become cultural icons.