The American author Lyman Frank Baum was born at Chittenango, New York, near Syracuse, on May 15, 1856. His parents, Benjamin Ward and Cynthia (Stanton) Baum, were wealthy due to the family oil business, and his mother promoted womens rights, which influenced Baums later portrayal of strong female protagonists. Throughout his life, Baum suffered a heart ailment that limited his physical activities and resulted in him being both introspective and highly imaginative. He mostly studied at home with tutors, until his parents, hoping to encourage him to be more active, sent him to the Peekskill Military Academy. However, Baum loathed the academy and, as a result, anti-military messages appeared in his later works. He enjoyed exploring his parents estate, Rose Lawn, which some people believe was the inspiration for the Emerald City in his Oz books. Baum read fairy tales, especially those written by Hans Christian Andersen, who influenced Baums style and depiction of archetypes. Several Oz-related characters have a foundation in Baums childhood. For example, he sometimes had nightmares about a scarecrow chasing him, and the Tin Woodmans search for a heart might reflect Baums desire to have a strong, healthy heart. ...