The Gnome King of Oz
Ruth Plumly Thompson's seventh Oz book, illustrated by John R. Neill.
The Gnome King of Oz (1927) is the twenty-first book in the Oz series and the seventh written by Ruth Plumly Thompson. It was illustrated by John R. Neill, as were nineteen of the twenty previous Oz books. The volume was followed by The Giant Horse of Oz (1928).
Quick Facts
- Author
- Ruth Plumly Thompson
- Illustrator
- John R. Neill
- Country
- United States
- Language
- English
- Series
- The Oz books
- Genre
- Children's novel
- Publisher
- Reilly & Lee
- Released
- 1927
Facts from the source article.
Plot
To find a successor, the Chief Scrapper and Prime Piecer unwind the Spool of Succession and follow the golden thread, which leads to the Emerald City and selects Scraps, the Patchwork Girl of Oz, as the new queen. The two Quilties kidnap Scraps, as they are accustomed to resistance from reluctant queens. A seaquake uncovers the sunken pirate ship of Polacky the Plunderer, containing the magic chest of Soob the Sorcerer. The chest holds several treasures, including a torn magic cloak meant to render the wearer invisible and teleport him anywhere. The derelict ship drifts with Peter and Ruggedo to the Land of Ev. He learns only the expert tailors in Patch can repair the cloak. In Patch, Ruggedo offers Peter as a slave in exchange for the repair, and the ministers accept.
Reception
The Atlantic City Sunday Press described The Gnome King of Oz as 'Good Reading for Rainy Day,' noting that while L. Frank Baum invented the story idea, Ruth Plumly Thompson tells the story with more facility and never lets the interest slacken. The reviewer praised the story-skill, jollity, and vigorous succession of events. The Boston Globe called it a 'pleasing new Oz tale for young children.'
Frequently Asked Questions
Who published The Gnome King of Oz?
The Gnome King of Oz was published by Reilly & Lee.
How many pages is The Gnome King of Oz?
The Gnome King of Oz has 282 pages.
More in Oz Books
Spotted an error? Know more?
Reader corrections go straight into our review queue. Suggest an edit · How this site is sourced