Wicked by Gregory Maguire

A Wicked Read
First published Hampshire Chronicle, 25th May 2006

IN ONE of Winchester's local bookshops, a sizeable black hardcover book caught my attention. There was a green metallic face embossed on the cover and the pages were edged in green, so the book appeared to be green on the inside as well.

I'd just picked up the latest edition hardcover by Gregory Maguire, called Wicked, subtitled The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West.

Originally released in 1995, it was now the basis for a new Broadway hit play.

This isn’t yet another story jumping on the latest prequel craze. It’s retelling of the existing story of Oz, from the perspective of the Wicked Witch and those involved in her life.

Maguire looks into many issues; most significantly that wickedness is formed through ill-fated attempts to do what one believes is truly right. Elphaba, before she became the Wicked Witch of the West, was fighting against political strife in the land of Oz, brought on by the Great and Powerful Wizard of Oz.

Maguire covers all of this and more with beautifully developed characters, locations and situations. He touches upon family issues, social values, terrorism and even animal rights.

The book goes deep in many directions.With explicit sexual content, it’s certainly no longer a children’s bedtime book.

Wicked has a gothic appeal, with dark humour reinforced by a flawed heroine who you read on to identify with in many aspects. The book has a rough, difficult to follow beginning, but as it flashes forward in years, you can't help but be amazed at how well Maguire captured the tumultuous challenges of youth and the point at which a young adult has to choose for themselves the difference between right or wrong.

It’s a political satire chronicling the untold story of the Wicked Witch of the West, from the cradle to her watery grave.

It’s a story of the difficulties of becoming an adult, sexual maturity, and the sadness of lost love. L. Frank Baum created an entire series of Oz books. Gregory Maguire's version is proof that there are always two sides to a story. He shows how interesting things become when we find a new perspective on something we thought we were familiar with.

Wicked, by Gregory Maguire, is definitely one to keep on the bookshelves for years to come.

–Tina Hulme