Publication Date: June 17, 2025
Long before Dorothy visits Oz, her aunt, Emily Gale, sets off on her own grand adventure, leaving gritty Chicago behind for Kansas and a life that will utterly change her, in this transporting novel from New York Times bestselling author Hazel Gaynor.
Chicago, 1924: Emily and her new husband, Henry, yearn to leave the bustle of Chicago for the promise of their own American dream among the harsh beauty of the prairie. But leaving the city means leaving Emily’s beloved sister, Annie, who was once closer to her than anyone in the world.
Kansas, 1932: Emily and Henry have established their new home among the warmth of the farming community in Kansas. Aligned to the fickle fortunes of nature, their lives hold a precarious and hopeful purpose, until tragedy strikes and their orphaned niece, Dorothy, lands on their doorstep.
The wide-eyed child isn’t the only thing to disrupt Emily’s world. Drought and devastating dust storms threaten to destroy everything, and her much-loved home becomes a place of uncertainty and danger. When the past catches up with the present and old secrets are exposed, Emily fears she will lose the most cherished thing of all: Dorothy.
Bursting with courage and heart, Before Dorothy tells the story of the woman who raised a beloved heroine, and ponders the question: what is the true meaning of home?
For over a century, readers have embraced The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, created by L. Frank Baum, which led to the creation of the movie starring Judy Garland and later morphed into school musicals.
Looking back with adult eyes, curiosity surrounds the possible backstory that sets the story in motion. Author Hazel Gaynor lets her imagination roam in Before Dorothy.
This fascinating story centers on Emily Gale and takes readers on a journey into the 1930s, where a young couple in Kansas tries to make a living. Not only do they face unpredictability living in the Dust Bowl, but the Great Depression brings added strain.
Expanding the role of Auntie Em offers a number of interesting story arcs, particularly in how young Dorothy ends up in the care of her aunt and uncle. Rather than treating her as a supporting character, Emily becomes a strong, courageous woman who must withstand numerous tests from nature.
Before Dorothy breathes life into a woman we’ve always known as Auntie Em and establishes her identity as Emily Gale.
Hazel Gaynor is an award-winning, New York Times, USA Today, Irish Times, and internationally bestselling author known for her deeply moving historical novels which explore the defining events of the 20th century. Her most recent novel, The Last Lifeboat, was a Times historical novel of the month, an Audie award winner, and was short-listed for the Irish Book Awards. Her work is published in twenty-seven territories to date. She lives in Ireland with her family.
