The Gnome King of Oz
Encyclopedia
The Gnome King of Oz is the twenty-first in the series of Oz books created by L. Frank Baum
and his successors, and the seventh by Ruth Plumly Thompson
. Like nineteen of the twenty previous books, it was illustrated by John R. Neill
.
, and to a being known as Scraps, the Patchwork Girl
of Oz (first introduced in her eponymously-titled novel
, the seventh Oz book by L. Frank Baum
). The two Quilties, used to resistance from Queens-to-be (it's not that good a job), unceremoniously kidnap Scraps in a ragbag and hustle her away.
Simultaneously, other people are having their own troubles. Peter Brown
, a boy from Philadelphia, is transported by a balloon bird to the Runaway Island, where the wicked Gnome King
has been stranded for five years (see Kabumpo in Oz
). Banishment has not agreed with Ruggedo, who is nastier than ever (later on in the book he tries to sell Peter into slavery). A seaquake reveals the sunken Blunderoo, the abandoned pirate ship of Polacky the Plunderer—which includes among its treasure the magic chest of Soob the Sorcerer. The chest holds a magic cloak that allows invisibility and will transport the wearer anywhere he choses. But the cloak is torn, and will not work. The ship, however, derelict as it is, allows boy and Gnome to drift to the Land of Ev
.
Ruggedo's plan is to have the cloak mended, then use it to fly to the Emerald City and recover his magic belt, with all its power — but he learns that he can only have the tricky repair job done in Patch, home of the most adept seamstresses in Oz. So Peter meets Scraps and makes other new friends, including Grumpy the Bear and Ozwold the Ostrich. Ruggedo does get the magic cloak repaired, makes his way to the Emerald City, and causes some mischief before Peter overcomes Ruggedo with his baseball-pitching talent and the Wizard of Oz
makes him visible again. Good triumphs. Ozma promotes Peter to a Prince of Oz, but the boy chooses to return to Philadelphia; he can't let down his team.
L. Frank Baum
Lyman Frank Baum was an American author of children's books, best known for writing The Wonderful Wizard of Oz...
and his successors, and the seventh by Ruth Plumly Thompson
Ruth Plumly Thompson
Ruth Plumly Thompson was an American writer of children's stories.-Life and work:An avid reader of Baum's books and a lifelong children's writer, Thompson was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and began her writing career in 1914 when she took a job with the Philadelphia Public Ledger; she wrote...
. Like nineteen of the twenty previous books, it was illustrated by John R. Neill
John R. Neill
John Rea Neill was a magazine and children's book illustrator primarily known for illustrating more than forty stories set in the Land of Oz, including L. Frank Baum's, Ruth Plumly Thompson's, and three of his own. His pen-and-ink drawings have become identified almost exclusively with the Oz series...
.
The plot
Patch is the country of the Quilties, a land of seamtresses and quiltmakers; it lies in the Quadling quadrant of Oz. Its people have a serious problem. Their queen, Cross Patch the Sixth, has gone to pieces—literally; small pieces too. To find her successor, the land's Chief Scrapper and Prime Piercer unwind the Spool of Succession, and follow where the golden thread leads. It leads, in this instance, to a place known as the Emerald CityEmerald City
The Emerald City is the fictional capital city of the Land of Oz in L. Frank Baum's Oz books, first described in The Wonderful Wizard of Oz...
, and to a being known as Scraps, the Patchwork Girl
Patchwork Girl
The Patchwork Girl is a character from the fantasy Oz Book series by L. Frank Baum. She first appeared in The Patchwork Girl of Oz....
of Oz (first introduced in her eponymously-titled novel
The Patchwork Girl of Oz
The Patchwork Girl of Oz by L. Frank Baum, is a children's novel, the seventh set in the Land of Oz. Characters include the Woozy, Ojo "the Unlucky", Unc Nunkie, Dr. Pipt, Scraps , and others. The book was first published on July 1, 1913, with illustrations by John R. Neill...
, the seventh Oz book by L. Frank Baum
L. Frank Baum
Lyman Frank Baum was an American author of children's books, best known for writing The Wonderful Wizard of Oz...
). The two Quilties, used to resistance from Queens-to-be (it's not that good a job), unceremoniously kidnap Scraps in a ragbag and hustle her away.
Simultaneously, other people are having their own troubles. Peter Brown
Peter Brown (Oz)
Peter Brown is a major character in the Oz novels of Ruth Plumly Thompson, who continued the series of Oz books after the death of their creator, L. Frank Baum...
, a boy from Philadelphia, is transported by a balloon bird to the Runaway Island, where the wicked Gnome King
Nome King
The Nome King is a fictional character in L. Frank Baum's Oz books. Although the Wicked Witch of the West is the most famous of Oz's villains , the Nome King is the closest the book series has to a main antagonist.-In the novels:The character called the Nome King is originally named Roquat the Red...
has been stranded for five years (see Kabumpo in Oz
Kabumpo in Oz
Kabumpo in Oz is the sixteenth Oz book, and the second written by Ruth Plumly Thompson. It was the first Oz book fully credited to her. Kabumpo in Oz (1922) is the sixteenth Oz book, and the second written by Ruth Plumly Thompson. It was the first Oz book fully credited to her. Kabumpo in Oz...
). Banishment has not agreed with Ruggedo, who is nastier than ever (later on in the book he tries to sell Peter into slavery). A seaquake reveals the sunken Blunderoo, the abandoned pirate ship of Polacky the Plunderer—which includes among its treasure the magic chest of Soob the Sorcerer. The chest holds a magic cloak that allows invisibility and will transport the wearer anywhere he choses. But the cloak is torn, and will not work. The ship, however, derelict as it is, allows boy and Gnome to drift to the Land of Ev
Land of Ev
The Land of Ev is a fictional country in the Oz books of L. Frank Baum and his successors. Its exact location is unclear between text and maps. The Road to Oz states that Ev is to the north of the Land of Oz, and in Ozma of Oz, Princess Ozma of Oz and her procession enter the Munchkin Country and...
.
Ruggedo's plan is to have the cloak mended, then use it to fly to the Emerald City and recover his magic belt, with all its power — but he learns that he can only have the tricky repair job done in Patch, home of the most adept seamstresses in Oz. So Peter meets Scraps and makes other new friends, including Grumpy the Bear and Ozwold the Ostrich. Ruggedo does get the magic cloak repaired, makes his way to the Emerald City, and causes some mischief before Peter overcomes Ruggedo with his baseball-pitching talent and the Wizard of Oz
Wizard (Oz)
The Wizard of Oz, known during his reign as The Great and Powerful Oz, is the epithet of Oscar Zoroaster Phadrig Isaac Norman Henkel Emmannuel Ambroise Diggs, a fictional character in the Land of Oz, created by American author L...
makes him visible again. Good triumphs. Ozma promotes Peter to a Prince of Oz, but the boy chooses to return to Philadelphia; he can't let down his team.