Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West
Gregory Maguire
Nov 2005 · Wicked Years Book 1 · Recorded Books · Narrated by John McDonough
4.6star
32 reviewsreport
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19 hr 44 min
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The New York Times bestseller that inspired the Tony-winning hit musical and major motion picture
OVER 6 MILLION COPIES SOLD
Years before Dorothy and her dog crash-land, another little girl makes her presence known in Oz. This girl, Elphaba, is born with emerald-green skin—no easy burden in a land as mean and poor as Oz, where superstition and magic are not strong enough to explain or overcome
the natural disasters of flood and famine. Still, Elphaba is smart, and not long after entering Shiz University, she becomes a member of a charmed circle of Oz's most promising young citizens.
But Elphaba's Oz is no utopia. The Wizard's secret police are everywhere.
Animals—those creatures with voices, souls, and minds—are threatened with exile. Young Elphaba, green and wild and misunderstood, is determined to protect the Animals—even if it means combating the mysterious Wizard, even if it means risking her single chance at romance.
Ever wiser in guilt and sorrow, she can find herself grateful when the world declares her a witch. And she can even make herself glad for that young girl from Kansas.
"An astonishing achievement."—Philip Pullman
OVER 6 MILLION COPIES SOLD
Years before Dorothy and her dog crash-land, another little girl makes her presence known in Oz. This girl, Elphaba, is born with emerald-green skin—no easy burden in a land as mean and poor as Oz, where superstition and magic are not strong enough to explain or overcome
the natural disasters of flood and famine. Still, Elphaba is smart, and not long after entering Shiz University, she becomes a member of a charmed circle of Oz's most promising young citizens.
But Elphaba's Oz is no utopia. The Wizard's secret police are everywhere.
Animals—those creatures with voices, souls, and minds—are threatened with exile. Young Elphaba, green and wild and misunderstood, is determined to protect the Animals—even if it means combating the mysterious Wizard, even if it means risking her single chance at romance.
Ever wiser in guilt and sorrow, she can find herself grateful when the world declares her a witch. And she can even make herself glad for that young girl from Kansas.
"An astonishing achievement."—Philip Pullman
Ratings and reviews
4.6
32 reviews
Jackey Gibney
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February 11, 2020
It was a very good book but hard to get through. Its really tragic and I wanted Fiyero and Elphaba to be together in the end. Elphaba wasn't nearly as evil as people make her out to be. I honestly don't blame her for the things she did or the way she acted. The lose of Fiyero was ultimately tragic and I had to take a break after that part. It's very sad. I cried way to many times during this. I wanted to believe Fiyero was still alive like the musical.....😭😭😭
2 people found this review helpful
Anastasia Chilakos
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August 26, 2021
My favorite fiction novel! I wish there had been a version with Gregory Maguire reading it as they did with the sequel book, Son of a Witch but still great
John Pereira
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July 3, 2023
Absolutely immersive and pleasant.
About the author
Gregory Maguire was born June 9, 1954 in Albany, New York. He received a B.A. from the State University of New York at Albany and a Ph.D. in English and American literature from Tufts University. He is a founder and co-director of Children's Literature New England, Incorporated, a non-profit educational charity established in 1987. He writes for both adults and children. His first book, The Lighting Time, was published in 1978. His adult works include Wicked, Confessions of and Ugly Stepsister, Lost, Mirror Mirror, Son of a Witch, and A Lion Among Men. The Broadway play Wicked is based on his book of the same title. His children's books include the picture book Crabby Cratchitt, the novel The Good Liar, and the Hamlet Chronicles series.
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