Wicked Witch of the West, Lona Bailey
Wicked Witch of the West, Lona Bailey
List: $15.99 | Sale: $11.20
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Wicked Witch of the West
The Enduring Legacy of a Feminist Icon

Author: Lona Bailey

Narrator: Patricia Burgos

Unabridged: 6 hr 58 min

Format: Digital Audiobook Download

Publisher: Tantor Media

Published: 10/02/2025


Synopsis

Over 125 years after her introduction, the Wicked Witch of the West remains an icon of popular culture. Known by many names, she consistently defies expectations and wields her power unapologetically. At the heart of her everlasting appeal is her embodiment of feminist ideals that resonate today.

In The Wicked Witch of the West: The Enduring Legacy of a Feminist Icon, Lona Bailey explores the radical feministic undertones of one of the most enduring characters in popular culture. This book traces her transformation over the past century, highlighting how she has evolved through countless adaptations from The Wizard of Oz to the film adaptation of Wicked while maintaining her core identity as a powerful, defiant figure.

To understand why the Witch remains captivating more than a century after her creation, Bailey delves into the radical feminism underlying her character and examines how she has been reinterpreted since her debut. From the suffrage movement to the fight for reproductive rights, and from the #MeToo movement to ongoing battles against gender stereotypes, the Witch symbolizes the struggles and triumphs women face. By exploring the Witch's feminist evolution, listeners will gain insight into why her character continues to resonate with generations of women.

Reviews

Goodreads review by Kayleigh on November 12, 2025

Wicked Witch of the West yes, touches on the iconic role and how it impacted feminism and the portrayal of scorn women in media, but it also leans into how witches are treated as a whole. I liked hearing about L. Frank Baum's family involvement in the suffrage movement and the chapter on Margaret Ha......more

Goodreads review by Lizzie on August 07, 2025

I had incredibly mixed feelings after finishing this book, so let’s start with what I really enjoyed! The insight into the women and feminist ideas behind the creation of Oz and the Wicked Witch of the West were fascinating. It had never occurred to me (although it seems obvious now that it’s been po......more

Goodreads review by Fran on November 05, 2025

Scholarly History of the Wicked Witch of the West Known for her books on film history and persons, Lona Bailey tackles the witchiest of them all in her newest, the Wicked Witch of the West. Part history, part thesis, this book attempts to outline the development of the Wicked Witch as a feminist char......more

Goodreads review by Emma on September 26, 2025

As a self-proclaimed Wizard of Oz enthusiast, and as someone who went dressed as the Wicked Witch of the West for Halloween for the better part of a decade as a child, I was thrilled to receive a review copy of Wicked Witch of the West: The Enduring Legacy of a Feminist Icon by Lona Bailey. Thank yo......more

Goodreads review by Quilted.reads on November 25, 2025

I’ve had this ARC sitting on my Kindle forever and with all the Wicked: For Good hype everywhere right now I finally jumped in and ZERO regrets. I loved every single minute of it. For all my Wicked musical girlies this one is absolutely for you.Wicked Witch of the West is an empowering deep dive int......more