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Daughters of Destiny (1906) is a novel by L. Frank Baum. Although he is more widely known as the author of the Land of Oz series, Baum also used several pseudonyms to make forays into more conventional fiction for adults. Daughters of Destiny, written under the pen name "Schuyler Staunton," is a story of corruption, political intrigue, romance, and adventure. "When the American Construction Syndicate, of New York and Chicago, conceived the idea of laying a railway across Baluchistan, through the Alexandrian Pass and so into the Lower Indies-thus connecting Asia and Europe by the shortest possible route-it was regarded as a bold undertaking even for this gigantic corporation." Despite the cost and difficulty of building a railroad across the mountainous desert landscape of Baluchistan, the American Construction Syndicate pushes forward for the sake of pride and greed. Appointed to lead a commission to the Baluchi ruler, Colonel Piedmont Moore travels abroad with his friend Dr. Warner, his daughter Janet, and Warner's children Allison and Bessie. When they arrive in Baluchistan, they discover that the kingdom is undergoing a period of political unrest: the Khan is dying, and two princes are vying to inherit the throne. While Daughters of Destiny is far from the fantasy and fairy tale style most of Baum's readers adore him for, it remains an entertaining work of adventure fiction for devoted fans of the Oz series and newcomers alike. With a beautifully designed cover and professionally typeset manuscript, this edition of L. Frank Baum's Daughters of Destiny is a classic of American literature reimagined for modern readers.
About the author
L. Frank Baum (1856-1919) was an American author of children’s literature and pioneer of fantasy fiction. He demonstrated an active imagination and a skill for writing from a young age, and was encouraged by his father who bought him the printing press with which he began to publish several journals. Although he had a lifelong passion for theater, Baum found success with his novel The Wonderful Wizard of Oz (1900), a self-described “modernized fairy tale” that led to thirteen sequels, inspired several stage and radio adaptations, and eventually, in 1939, was immortalized in the classic film starring Judy Garland.
