268:. Among their staff is a talented surgeon, Doctor Gys. He is "an eccentric, a character...erratic and whimsical," an adventurer who has been from the Arctic to the Yucatán, and in the process has been badly disfigured by various hard-luck accidents (involving icebergs and poisoned cacti). Gys calls himself a coward, but also sees death as a release from his disfigured body; he wonders what kind of death would be preferable, and has a morbid interest in confronting the violence of the War. The Americans also acquire a Belgian chauffeur named Maurie as an ambulance driver; he provides
306:
the book and replace the neutral outlook with one that favors the Allies. Where the War had been viewed as waste and folly in the earlier version, it is now seen as a moral conflict between right and wrong; John
Merrick asserts that his "money and energy must be expended in defeating the menace of the Central Powers." The horrors of the War are given a more direct treatment, particularly in the case of an American cameraman who is badly wounded and treated by the young nurses.
492:
27:
223:"I wish I might have depicted more gently the scenes in hospital and on battlefield, but it is well that my girl readers should realize something of the horrors of war, that they may unite with heart and soul in earnest appeal for universal, lasting Peace and the future abolition of all deadly strife."
369:
book was a natural point at which to stop the series. It is the most serious of the ten novels, with the most weighty subject matter; and it takes its protagonists out the world of their girlhoods and into adult life. Both the remaining single cousins, Patsy and Beth, are moving toward maturity and
288:
The
Americans lose the confidence of the French authorities at Dunkirk when a German prisoner they are treating escapes their custody; fewer wounded come to their ship as a result, and it appears that their usefulness is limited. After three months of service, the girls return to the United States.
305:
By 1918, though, the situation had changed dramatically; on the personal level, two of Baum's four sons were serving with the
American army in Europe. Baum and his publisher decided to issue a revised edition of the book. For the 1918 revision, Baum wrote four new chapters that toughen the tone of
248:
Both Maud and Ajo have come to New York; Maud is one her way to Europe to serve as a nurse. (She trained in nursing before becoming a film actress.) Patsy and Beth are struck with admiration for her action, and are eager to follow her example. When Uncle John finds that he cannot dissuade them, he
495:
281:
The protagonists cope with military bureaucracies and confront the horrors of the battlefield — though Baum, "in keeping with his Van Dyne persona...kept his descriptions mild." Beth has previously had a year of nursing training; but Patsy is a neophyte who is shocked at the conditions she
309:
The ending of the story varies significantly between the two versions. In the 1918 text, the girls do not go home after three months, but plan to stay as long as they can be helpful. Dr. Gys survives, and his disfigurements are remedied by a skilled plastic surgeon. Once Gys is restored to his
301:
reflected the neutral status of the United States at that date. The nieces and their hospital ship treat the wounded of both sides; "They encounter gentlemanly and admirable German officers, as well as bullies." They express the hope that the war will not last long, and they soon return home.
245:. (Baum arrived at Maud Stanton's name by combining his wife's first name, Maud, with his mother's maiden name, Stanton.) Maud Stanton takes the place of the third of the trio of cousins, Louise Merrick, who does not appear in the final book.
289:
Uncle John tells them that "You have unselfishly devoted your lives for three strenuous months to the injured soldiers of a foreign war, and I hope you're satisfied that you've done your full duty."
332:, and in the interim had done abundant work for Baum's publisher Reilly & Britton. Hall specialized in adventure stories, scouting handbooks, and comparable material; he illustrated titles like
356:
series had been "one of your — and our — bread-and-butter winners," it was time to bring the series to its end and start a new venture. Baum agreed, and began the
285:
In the climax of the story, Patsy is injured but recovers, but Dr. Gys is killed on the battlefield. Though Gys had repeatedly proclaimed his cowardice, his death is heroic.
232:
The novel opens on 7 September 1914; the continuing characters Patsy Doyle, Beth De Graf, and their uncle John
Merrick are reading a newspaper account of the end of the
218:"This is the story of how three brave American girls sacrificed the comforts and luxuries of home to go abroad and nurse the wounded soldiers of a foreign war.
282:
encounters. Doctor Gys reacts with paralyzing fear on his first exposure to combat, but his medical discipline soon takes over and he functions effectively.
1250:
208:
The book was furnished with an introductory note by "Edith Van Dyne," an unusual though not unprecedented step for books in the series. (The second book,
903:
239:
The protagonists are soon re-united with "Ajo" Jones and the movie star Maud
Stanton, two characters from the previous book in the series,
236:
and the German victory. Both of the girls are intensely concerned with the war news; Beth in particular is a partisan of the French cause.
1255:
1202:
659:
326:
volume was the only one of the ten illustrated by Norman P. Hall. Hall had contributed one picture to Baum's 1901 story collection
528:
1235:
589:
447:
446:
was in the heavy artillery, and rose to the rank of lieutenant colonel; second son Robert
Stanton Baum was an officer in the
1225:
1034:
743:
274:
917:
792:
708:
1245:
310:
original good looks, he and Beth become engaged to be married. An engagement also looms for Patsy at the story's end.
771:
257:, for conversion to a hospital ship. Uncle John pays for its refitting and for two ambulances to carry the wounded.
1049:
729:
362:
series of books that would (along with his last Oz books) occupy him through the remainder of his literary career.
1018:
985:
1027:
806:
241:
145:
1240:
1230:
715:
181:
series of books for adolescent girls — the second greatest success of his publishing career, after the
951:
701:
652:
645:
210:
924:
596:
582:
521:
568:
546:
673:
561:
1000:
799:
603:
575:
1180:
1063:
848:
969:
958:
736:
514:
249:
resolves to back their effort; he uses his wealth and influence to form a connection with the
1042:
1007:
889:
855:
638:
177:
68:
1140:
1135:
896:
631:
328:
8:
1145:
1090:
931:
834:
827:
624:
617:
164:
88:
78:
190:
1056:
993:
910:
357:
250:
196:
The book is noteworthy in Baum's canon for its expression of his views and feelings on
161:
104:
100:
1150:
1098:
978:
694:
687:
666:
443:
260:
Merrrick's money and the girls' enthusiasm work wonders; by the end of
September the
233:
750:
610:
352:
In a letter dated 7 October 1915, Baum's publisher suggested to him that while the
182:
1155:
1122:
1106:
862:
841:
764:
757:
484:
253:. Jones, also enthusiastic for the cause, volunteers his ocean-going yacht, the
1082:
722:
26:
1219:
1185:
1175:
1130:
1114:
813:
778:
537:
214:, also features an author's introduction.) In this introduction, Baum wrote,
168:
40:
1165:
1160:
869:
269:
197:
785:
680:
272:
for the book, in somewhat the same way as the chauffeur Wampus does in
172:
1170:
123:
501:
265:
506:
189:
was released under the pen name "Edith Van Dyne," one of Baum's
185:
themselves. As with all the previous books in the series,
322:
series had been illustrated by Emile A. Nelson; the
421:, Minneapolis, Lerner Publications, 1992; p. 119.
1217:
400:
398:
396:
16:1915 young adult novel written by L. Frank Baum
522:
417:Angelica Shirley Carpenter and Jean Shirley,
408:, New York, St. Martin's Press, 2002; p. 218.
393:
175:. It is the tenth and final volume in Baum's
904:Queer Visitors from the Marvelous Land of Oz
1203:The Dreamer of Oz: The L. Frank Baum Story
529:
515:
25:
406:L. Frank Baum, Creator of Oz: A Biography
264:, painted with large red crosses, is in
1251:Children's books set during World War I
660:Sam Steele's Adventures on Land and Sea
1218:
590:The Life and Adventures of Santa Claus
390:, Chicago, Reilly & Britton, 1915.
510:
318:Eight of the nine prior books in the
419:L. Frank Baum, Royal Historian of Oz
292:
20:Aunt Jane's Nieces in the Red Cross
821:Aunt Jane's Nieces in the Red Cross
497:Aunt Jane's Nieces in the Red Cross
460:Aunt Jane's Nieces in the Red Cross
431:Aunt Jane's Nieces in the Red Cross
388:Aunt Jane's Nieces in the Red Cross
299:Aunt Jane's Nieces in the Red Cross
187:Aunt Jane's Nieces in the Red Cross
157:Aunt Jane's Nieces in the Red Cross
13:
370:marriage at the end of the story.
313:
14:
1267:
744:Aunt Jane's Nieces and Uncle John
536:
478:
275:Aunt Jane's Nieces and Uncle John
1050:His Majesty, the Scarecrow of Oz
918:L. Frank Baum's Juvenile Speaker
490:
450:. Carpenter and Shirley, p. 118.
338:Carpentry and Mechanics for Boys
334:Homemade Toys for Girls and Boys
793:Aunt Jane's Nieces on the Ranch
709:Aunt Jane's Nieces at Millville
171:, famous as the creator of the
1256:Children's books set in France
1028:The Fairylogue and Radio-Plays
772:Aunt Jane's Nieces on Vacation
465:
453:
436:
424:
411:
380:
1:
1236:Novels set during World War I
730:Aunt Jane's Nieces in Society
373:
702:Dorothy and the Wizard in Oz
7:
925:Little Wizard Stories of Oz
807:Aunt Jane's Nieces Out West
597:The Enchanted Island of Yew
500:public domain audiobook at
344:series of juvenile novels.
242:Aunt Jane's Nieces Out West
227:
203:
146:Aunt Jane's Nieces Out West
10:
1272:
716:Aunt Jane's Nieces at Work
569:The Wonderful Wizard of Oz
347:
1194:
1073:
1017:
968:
952:By the Candelabra's Glare
941:
879:
674:John Dough and the Cherub
646:Aunt Jane's Nieces Abroad
562:The Magical Monarch of Mo
553:
544:
211:Aunt Jane's Nieces Abroad
140:
130:
118:
110:
94:
84:
74:
64:
56:
48:
36:
24:
1226:Aunt Jane's Nieces books
1035:The Patchwork Girl of Oz
800:The Patchwork Girl of Oz
604:The Marvelous Land of Oz
576:Dot and Tot of Merryland
1181:William Wallace Denslow
1064:The Gray Nun of Belgium
849:The Lost Princess of Oz
462:, 1918 edition, p. 270.
433:, 1915 edition, p. 256.
959:Father Goose: His Book
737:The Emerald City of Oz
340:, and Gordon Stuart's
1246:1915 children's books
1043:The Magic Cloak of Oz
1008:The Tik-Tok Man of Oz
890:Mother Goose in Prose
856:The Tin Woodman of Oz
404:Katharine M. Rogers,
342:Boy Scouts of the Air
44:(as "Edith Van Dyne")
1241:Novels set in France
1231:1915 American novels
1136:Edith Ogden Harrison
897:American Fairy Tales
653:Daughters of Destiny
329:American Fairy Tales
297:Baum's 1915 text of
89:Reilly & Britton
1146:Louis F. Gottschalk
1091:Matilda Joslyn Gage
932:The Runaway Shadows
828:The Scarecrow of Oz
625:The Woggle-Bug Book
618:The Fate of a Crown
79:Young adult fiction
21:
994:Prince Silverwings
911:Animal Fairy Tales
639:Aunt Jane's Nieces
448:Corps of Engineers
442:Baum's eldest son
386:"Edith Van Dyne,"
354:Aunt Jane's Nieces
320:Aunt Jane's Nieces
251:American Red Cross
191:various pseudonyms
178:Aunt Jane's Nieces
69:Aunt Jane's Nieces
19:
1213:
1212:
1151:Nathaniel D. Mann
1127:
1119:
1111:
1103:
1099:Frank Joslyn Baum
1095:
1087:
1076:and collaborators
979:The Maid of Arran
695:The Last Egyptian
688:Policeman Bluejay
667:The Twinkle Tales
444:Frank Joslyn Baum
293:The 1918 revision
234:Siege of Maubeuge
165:young adult novel
153:
152:
111:Publication place
1263:
1125:
1118:(great-grandson)
1117:
1109:
1101:
1093:
1085:
986:The Wizard of Oz
751:The Daring Twins
611:Queen Zixi of Ix
531:
524:
517:
508:
507:
494:
493:
472:
469:
463:
457:
451:
440:
434:
428:
422:
415:
409:
402:
391:
384:
141:Preceded by
96:Publication date
29:
22:
18:
1271:
1270:
1266:
1265:
1264:
1262:
1261:
1260:
1216:
1215:
1214:
1209:
1190:
1156:Frederic Chapin
1141:Isidore Witmark
1123:Jocelyn Burdick
1107:Harry Neal Baum
1094:(mother-in-law)
1075:
1069:
1057:Violet's Dreams
1013:
964:
943:
937:
881:
875:
863:The Magic of Oz
842:Rinkitink in Oz
765:The Sea Fairies
758:The Flying Girl
549:
540:
535:
491:
487:on Google Books
481:
476:
475:
471:Rogers, p. 219.
470:
466:
458:
454:
441:
437:
429:
425:
416:
412:
403:
394:
385:
381:
376:
350:
316:
314:The illustrator
295:
230:
206:
135:
119:Media type
97:
43:
32:
17:
12:
11:
5:
1269:
1259:
1258:
1253:
1248:
1243:
1238:
1233:
1228:
1211:
1210:
1208:
1207:
1198:
1196:
1192:
1191:
1189:
1188:
1183:
1178:
1173:
1168:
1163:
1158:
1153:
1148:
1143:
1138:
1133:
1128:
1120:
1112:
1104:
1096:
1088:
1083:Maud Gage Baum
1079:
1077:
1074:Related people
1071:
1070:
1068:
1067:
1060:
1053:
1046:
1039:
1031:
1023:
1021:
1015:
1014:
1012:
1011:
1004:
1001:The Woggle-Bug
997:
990:
982:
974:
972:
966:
965:
963:
962:
955:
947:
945:
939:
938:
936:
935:
928:
921:
914:
907:
900:
893:
885:
883:
877:
876:
874:
873:
866:
859:
852:
845:
838:
831:
824:
817:
810:
803:
796:
789:
782:
775:
768:
761:
754:
747:
740:
733:
726:
723:The Road to Oz
719:
712:
705:
698:
691:
684:
677:
670:
663:
656:
649:
642:
635:
628:
621:
614:
607:
600:
593:
586:
583:The Master Key
579:
572:
565:
557:
555:
551:
550:
545:
542:
541:
534:
533:
526:
519:
511:
505:
504:
488:
480:
479:External links
477:
474:
473:
464:
452:
435:
423:
410:
392:
378:
377:
375:
372:
349:
346:
315:
312:
294:
291:
229:
226:
225:
224:
220:
219:
205:
202:
151:
150:
142:
138:
137:
136:288 pp. (1918)
134:256 pp. (1915)
132:
128:
127:
120:
116:
115:
112:
108:
107:
98:
95:
92:
91:
86:
82:
81:
76:
72:
71:
66:
62:
61:
58:
54:
53:
52:Norman P. Hall
50:
46:
45:
38:
34:
33:
30:
15:
9:
6:
4:
3:
2:
1268:
1257:
1254:
1252:
1249:
1247:
1244:
1242:
1239:
1237:
1234:
1232:
1229:
1227:
1224:
1223:
1221:
1205:
1204:
1200:
1199:
1197:
1193:
1187:
1186:John R. Neill
1184:
1182:
1179:
1177:
1176:Emerson Hough
1174:
1172:
1169:
1167:
1164:
1162:
1159:
1157:
1154:
1152:
1149:
1147:
1144:
1142:
1139:
1137:
1134:
1132:
1131:Paul Tietjens
1129:
1124:
1121:
1116:
1115:Roger S. Baum
1113:
1108:
1105:
1100:
1097:
1092:
1089:
1084:
1081:
1080:
1078:
1072:
1066:
1065:
1061:
1059:
1058:
1054:
1052:
1051:
1047:
1045:
1044:
1040:
1037:
1036:
1032:
1030:
1029:
1025:
1024:
1022:
1020:
1016:
1010:
1009:
1005:
1003:
1002:
998:
996:
995:
991:
988:
987:
983:
981:
980:
976:
975:
973:
971:
967:
961:
960:
956:
954:
953:
949:
948:
946:
940:
934:
933:
929:
927:
926:
922:
920:
919:
915:
913:
912:
908:
906:
905:
901:
899:
898:
894:
892:
891:
887:
886:
884:
878:
872:
871:
867:
865:
864:
860:
858:
857:
853:
851:
850:
846:
844:
843:
839:
837:
836:
832:
830:
829:
825:
823:
822:
818:
816:
815:
814:Tik-Tok of Oz
811:
809:
808:
804:
802:
801:
797:
795:
794:
790:
788:
787:
783:
781:
780:
779:Phoebe Daring
776:
774:
773:
769:
767:
766:
762:
760:
759:
755:
753:
752:
748:
746:
745:
741:
739:
738:
734:
732:
731:
727:
725:
724:
720:
718:
717:
713:
711:
710:
706:
704:
703:
699:
697:
696:
692:
690:
689:
685:
683:
682:
678:
676:
675:
671:
669:
668:
664:
662:
661:
657:
655:
654:
650:
648:
647:
643:
641:
640:
636:
634:
633:
629:
627:
626:
622:
620:
619:
615:
613:
612:
608:
606:
605:
601:
599:
598:
594:
592:
591:
587:
585:
584:
580:
578:
577:
573:
571:
570:
566:
564:
563:
559:
558:
556:
552:
548:
543:
539:
538:L. Frank Baum
532:
527:
525:
520:
518:
513:
512:
509:
503:
499:
498:
489:
486:
483:
482:
468:
461:
456:
449:
445:
439:
432:
427:
420:
414:
407:
401:
399:
397:
389:
383:
379:
371:
368:
363:
361:
360:
355:
345:
343:
339:
335:
331:
330:
325:
321:
311:
307:
303:
300:
290:
286:
283:
279:
277:
276:
271:
267:
263:
258:
256:
252:
246:
244:
243:
237:
235:
222:
221:
217:
216:
215:
213:
212:
201:
199:
194:
192:
188:
184:
180:
179:
174:
170:
169:L. Frank Baum
166:
163:
159:
158:
149:
147:
143:
139:
133:
129:
125:
121:
117:
114:United States
113:
109:
106:
102:
99:
93:
90:
87:
83:
80:
77:
73:
70:
67:
63:
59:
55:
51:
47:
42:
41:L. Frank Baum
39:
35:
31:First edition
28:
23:
1201:
1166:Arthur Pryor
1161:Manuel Klein
1062:
1055:
1048:
1041:
1033:
1026:
1006:
999:
992:
984:
977:
957:
950:
930:
923:
916:
909:
902:
895:
888:
870:Glinda of Oz
868:
861:
854:
847:
840:
833:
826:
820:
819:
812:
805:
798:
791:
784:
777:
770:
763:
756:
749:
742:
735:
728:
721:
714:
707:
700:
693:
686:
679:
672:
665:
658:
651:
644:
637:
630:
623:
616:
609:
602:
595:
588:
581:
574:
567:
560:
547:Bibliography
496:
485:1915 edition
467:
459:
455:
438:
430:
426:
418:
413:
405:
387:
382:
366:
364:
358:
353:
351:
341:
337:
333:
327:
323:
319:
317:
308:
304:
298:
296:
287:
284:
280:
273:
270:comic relief
261:
259:
254:
247:
240:
238:
231:
209:
207:
195:
186:
176:
156:
155:
154:
144:
1206:(1990 film)
944:collections
882:collections
880:Short story
835:Mary Louise
359:Mary Louise
198:World War I
167:written by
49:Illustrator
1220:Categories
786:Sky Island
681:Ozma of Oz
374:References
173:Land of Oz
1171:Byron Gay
367:Red Cross
324:Red Cross
124:Hardcover
85:Publisher
502:LibriVox
262:Arabella
255:Arabella
228:Synopsis
204:Foreword
183:Oz books
57:Language
1195:Related
1126:(niece)
632:Annabel
348:The end
266:Dunkirk
122:Print (
60:English
1086:(wife)
1038:(1914)
989:(1902)
942:Poetry
554:Novels
148:
65:Series
37:Author
1110:(son)
1102:(son)
1019:Films
970:Plays
160:is a
131:Pages
75:Genre
365:The
162:1915
105:1918
101:1915
1222::
395:^
336:,
278:.
200:.
193:.
103:;
530:e
523:t
516:v
126:)
Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License. Additional terms may apply.