Our Landlady by Frank L. Baum, edited by Nancy Tystad Koupal

You've heard of Frank L. Baum if you've heard of The Wizard of Oz -- and everyone's heard of The Wizard of Oz. But you probably don't know that from January 1890 to February 1891, Baum wrote a column entitled "Our Landlady" that ran regularly in The Aberdeen Saturday Pioneer and now stand as a record of South Dakota's troubled first year. Baum commented on drought, railroads, suffrage, populism, prohibition, and other matters through his fictional landlady, Sairy Ann Bilkins, a busybody who starves her boarders. The vibrant cast of characters, the knack for satire, and the historical details make this collection of "Our Landlady" columns a real treat to read.