The Resume

(May 15, 1856-May 16, 1919)
Wrote 'The Wizard of Oz' (1900)
L. in his name is Lyman
Wrote 14 books about the land of Oz
'The Wiz' and 'Zardoz' were inspired by his works
Started the 'The Stamp Collector' magazine

Why he might be annoying:

As editor of the Aberdeen Pioneer, he called for the annihiliation of all Native Americans.
His store, Baum's Bazaar, put him in financial ruin and he declared bankruptcy (January 1, 1899).
Several libraries had actually banned 'The Wizard of Oz,' claiming it was juvenile reading for adolescents.
As a child (perhaps due to his weak heart), he was timid and made up imaginary playmates.
At 14 years old, he was sent to Peekskill Military Academy and suffered either a nervous breakdown or heart attack.
He had recurring nightmares of being chased by scarecrows.

Why he might not be annoying:

He was born with a bad heart.
He was gentle, and loved children so much he never could punish his four sons (he left that to his wife).
He had an anti-violence point of view and mocked the military in his books.
He was married to Maud for 36 years, until his death (1882-1919).
He disliked the horror in fairy tales and thus set out to make good witches and fun loving munchkins to replaced evil goblins and dwarfs.
The Wizard of Oz is considered to be a serious political parody about the depression of the 1890s.
Baum strongly supported the silverites who called for the U.S. to change from the gold standard and support a silver and gold standard of currency.
The scarecrow represents farmers who backed gold standards (no brains), tin man represents American workers who give everything, including their heart and the lion represents William Jennings Bryan.
Bryan ran for president (1896) on a pro-silver stand and then betrayed the silverites by lacking courage to maintain the cause.
The yellow brick road represents gold, the emerald city represents green money and Washington D.C. and the Wizard (pro-gold politicians) is unmasked as an imposter.
In the book, Dorothy's ruby slippers are silver, and clicking them returned her home.

Featured in the following Annoying Collections:

• 25 Most Adapted Authors in Film (Ranked: 16)
• Alan Moore Doesn’t Like Me
• Bankruptcy
• I am Known by My Initials
• I Died in 1919 (Ranked: 63)
• I Had a Nervous Breakdown
• I Inspired a Musical
• I Made a Biased Comment in Public [Some Alleged]
• I Write Bildungsroman
• I Write Sci-Fi
• IDs Ending in 00 (Ranked: 1900)
• I'm Buried at Forest Lawn Glendale Cemetery [Calif]
• In Town for The World's Fair at the Columbian Exposition [1893-Chicago]
• Philatelists [Stamp Collectors]
• Profiles 1751-2000 (Ranked: 1900)
• Teachers' Top 100 Books for Children (Ranked: 69)
• Wizard of Oz [1939]

Year In Review:

In 2023, Out of 8 Votes: 37.50% Annoying
In 2022, Out of 3 Votes: 0% Annoying
In 2021, Out of 15 Votes: 46.67% Annoying
In 2020, Out of 2 Votes: 0% Annoying
In 2019, Out of 5 Votes: 20.0% Annoying
In 2018, Out of 2 Votes: 50.0% Annoying
In 2017, Out of 15 Votes: 46.67% Annoying
In 2016, Out of 21 Votes: 19.05% Annoying
In 2015, Out of 17 Votes: 11.76% Annoying
In 2014, Out of 15 Votes: 46.67% Annoying
In 2013, Out of 13 Votes: 53.85% Annoying
In 2012, Out of 22 Votes: 18.18% Annoying
In 2011, Out of 15 Votes: 46.67% Annoying
In 2010, Out of 56 Votes: 46.43% Annoying
In 2009, Out of 95 Votes: 37.89% Annoying
In 2008, Out of 55 Votes: 36.36% Annoying
In 2007, Out of 111 Votes: 48.65% Annoying
In 2006, Out of 134 Votes: 47.01% Annoying
In 2005, Out of 357 Votes: 44.26% Annoying
In 2004, Out of 391 Votes: 41.18% Annoying
In 2003, Out of 851 Votes: 42.19% Annoying
In 2002, Out of 2420 Votes: 36.82% Annoying
In 2001, Out of 6378 Votes: 41.24% Annoying