Volkov, Aleksandr
Volkov, Aleksandr (1891–1977),Russian writer, best known for his series of fairy‐tale novels for children. The first of these, The Wizard of the Emerald City (1939), is a free adaptation of Frank Baum's The Wizard of Oz . In Volkov's version, the focus of the story is shifted towards collective rather than individual achievements, and friendship and obedience are presented as main virtues. In order to accentuate this, several new dramatic side episodes are added; otherwise the story follows very closely that of Baum. The five sequels, following the great success of the first book, have nothing to do with Baum: Urfin Jus and his Wooden Soldiers (1963), The Seven Underground Kings (1967), The Fiery God of the Marrans (1971), The Yellow Fog (1974), and The Mystery of the Deserted Castle (published posthumously, 1982). The plot of each...
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