Before Dorothy

(Hardback)

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Description

The greatest journey is the one you least expect

Long before Dorothy visits Oz, her aunt, Emily Gale, sets off on her own unforgettable adventure much closer to home

When news reaches Kansas that her beloved sister has tragically died, Emily Gale must become a mother overnight. Her sisters orphaned child, Dorothy, desperately needs a home.

But Emily doubts her ability to fill her sisters shoes; her life on the barren Kansas prairies is no place for a child.

On the unforgiving plains, Emily's courage is endlessly tested. The prolonged drought and relentless dust storms threaten to destroy everything including her home and her marriage.

Can Emily overcome her grief and let Dorothy heal her heart

From the promise of Chicago in the 1920s to the harsh beauty of the Kansas prairie during the dust bowl of the 1930s, this is a story of family, duty and one womans journey of self-discovery.

Reviews

'A story as glimmering as the Emerald City and as hopeful as Dorothy herself, Hazel Gaynor's latest is an important and enchanting addition to the canon of Oz' Kristin Harmel, New York Times bestselling author of The Stolen Life of Colette Marceau

'Like Dorothy stepping into Oz, Hazel Gaynors new novel pulls Auntie Em out of a black and white background and into a full-color world all her own' Sarah Miller, bestselling author of Caroline

'A brilliant idea, superbly executed Auntie Em and Dorothy are brought fully to life in this memorable tale of hardship and love in Americas dust bowl' Maggie Brookes, author of The Prisoner's Wife

'Heartbreaking and uplifting at the same time, this is my favourite Hazel Gaynor novel to date, and I've read them all. Loved it!' Gill Paul

'Exquisitely written [] the themes of home, family and belonging are acutely and tenderly observed [] an absolute triumph and in contention for my book of 2025!' Louise Fein

'It is impossible not to become lost in this tender, heartbreaking reimagining of the story of Auntie Em. Told with the emotional depth Hazel Gaynor it known for, this book deftly weaves the familiar story of Dorothy and The Wizard of Oz with a tale of struggle and survival on the wide open prairies of the Dust Bowl. Before Dorothy is a beautiful book' Julia Kelly, bestselling author of The Dressmakers of London

'I was so intrigued by the brilliant premise of Before Dorothy, and the story I found waiting blew me away A truly wondrous tale' Jenny Ashcroft

'Captivating, luminous, spell-binding. A clever distillation of the magic of The Wizard of Oz into the backstory of Auntie Em in Dust Bowl America, breathing new life into much-loved characters. Wonderful!' Fiona Valpy

'Clever, original, and immersive, this was my most anticipated read of 2025, and it certainly did not disappoint filled with drama, heartbreak, and hope' Carmel Harrington

Author Bio

Hazel Gaynor is an award-winning, New York Times, USA Today, Irish Times and internationally bestselling author known for her historical novels which explore the defining events of the 20th century. A debut author recipient of the 2015 RNA Historical Novel of the Year award, her work has since been shortlisted for the 2019 HWA Gold Crown Award, the 2020 RNA Awards, and the Irish Book Awards in 2017, 2020 and 2023. THE BIRD IN THE BAMBOO CAGE was a bestseller in the USA and her most recent novel, THE LAST LIFEBOAT, was a Times of London historical novel of the month and a 2024 Audie winner for Best Fiction Narrator. Hazel's next novel, BEFORE DOROTHY, will be published in June 2025. Her co-written historical novels with Heather Webb have all been published to critical acclaim. Their latest collaboration, CHRISTMAS WITH THE QUEEN, will be published in November 2024. Her work has been translated into 20 languages in 27 territories to date. She lives in Ireland with her family.