The Wizard of the Emerald City

Historical Context and Significance

The Wizard of the Emerald City, written by Alexander Volkov, is one of the most significant and popular works in Soviet and Russian children's literature. First published in 1939, this novel became a classic of the fantasy genre and deeply influenced the reading tastes of generations. Although the plot is based on the American fairy tale The Wonderful Wizard of Oz by L. Frank Baum, Volkov created a unique, original world with new characters and events, winning the hearts of millions of readers. The work contributed to the popularization of the fantasy genre in Soviet children's literature and served as a model for many authors in the following decades.