The Wicked Witch of the West: The Enduring Legacy of a Feminist Icon Blog Tour

Wicked Witch of the West: The Enduring Legacy of a Feminist Icon by Lona Bailey
Format: eARC
Source: Provided as part of book tour
Goodreads

An empowering look at one of pop culture's most enduring feminist icons, The Wicked Witch of the West.

More than 125 years after her introduction, the Wicked Witch of the West remains an icon of popular culture. Known by many names-from “The Wicked Witch of the West” to Evillene, Elphaba, and Theodora-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 Wicked Witch of the The Enduring Legacy of a Feminist Icon, Lona Bailey explores the radical feministic undertones of one of the most enduring characters in popular culture. Introduced in 1900 through L. Frank Baum's The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, the Wicked Witch has captivated generations as both a symbol of fear and empowerment. More than just a villain, she embodies rebellion and resistance, refusing to conform to the roles historically assigned to women. 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

Stories live long after their creators, evolving in ways that reflect the eras that embrace them. In Wicked Witch of the West: The Enduring Legacy of a Feminist Icon, Dr. Lona Bailey explores how one literary “villain” transformed into a feminist symbol that continues to provoke conversation, admiration, and reflection.

Bailey’s narrative traces more than a century of reinvention—from L. Frank Baum’s turn-of-the-century pages to Margaret Hamilton’s cinematic glare and the modern empathy of Wicked. Through these incarnations, she reveals how the Witch became a canvas for society’s shifting attitudes about women, power, and rebellion. This is not merely a study of a character, but an exploration of how fear of female autonomy became a recurring theme in storytelling. With elegance and authority, Bailey examines how the Witch’s evolution echoes women’s progress—from silenced outcasts to unapologetic visionaries.

Amazon: https://amzn.to/4nHUMH4

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/233812615-wicked-witch-of-the-west

 

Julie’s Review

During the Salem Witch Trials… they didn’t burn witches. They burned women.

Wicked Witch of the West: The Enduring Legacy of a Feminist Icon is a powerful essay illuminating how women are “othered” and the parallels between the Wicked Witch and feminism. 

As a rabid Wicked fan, I loved the deep dive into my favorite character and the discussion of the different ways Elphaba was portrayed between the original work from L.F. Baum to the MGM movie, to the book and musical Wicked, and now the movies.

 

Author Interview

Why did you choose this setting/topic?

I’ve always been fascinated by Margaret Hamilton’s portrayal of the Wicked Witch, and it occurred to me a couple of years ago that she did not have a full-length biography. After some preliminary research, I realized the potential for combining a bit of Hamilton’s story into the larger story of the Wicked Witch. The Wicked Witch of the West is so much more than a villainess—she’s a mirror of how women’s power and independence have been viewed through time, which are always topics of importance. Writing this book gave me the chance to explore her evolution from fearsome figure to feminist icon and the timing of the Wicked films was “spookily” perfect.

How did you research your book?

I dove deep into everything from MGM archives to feminist theory journals, historical folklore books, and even old fan magazines. I wanted to understand not just the Wicked Witch herself but how audiences across decades have reacted to her and why. It was part film history, part cultural detective work and I loved every minute of it!

Where do you get your ideas?

Usually from questions or topics of intrigue that just won’t leave me alone. With this book, it started with, “Why do we still fear the Witch, but secretly root for her too?” That curiosity turned into a full-blown exploration of power, femininity, and legacy and what perfect timing with the film adaptations of Wicked!

What sets your book apart from others in your genre?

I think this is one of the first books about the Wicked Witch herself not just in the context of film history, but in a broader cultural conversation. I have tried to blend Hollywood storytelling with feminist analysis, so readers get equal parts behind-the-scenes entertainment lore and what-does-this-say-about-me insight.

What helps you overcome writer’s block?

When writer’s block hits, I get up and move—I take a walk or slip into a good young adult fiction I enjoyed when I was younger (I’m a huge Nancy Drew fan!). Something about the rhythm of walking or the familiar creative tangles of a Nancy Drew or Goosebumps story helps the next line find me instead of the other way around.

What’s your favorite compliment you’ve received as a writer?

Several people over the years have told me after reading a biography I wrote of their loved one— someone I never had the chance to meet in life – that it felt as though I had known them personally. That’s one of the greatest compliments I could ever receive as a researcher and writer. It tells me my research was thorough, my interpretation true to the person, and that I succeeded in bringing their spirit to life on the page.

 

About the Author

Dr. Lona Bailey is an award-winning historian and author who specializes in recovering the forgotten stories of women from Hollywood’s formative years. Her biographical works—Voice of Villainy, Uncredited, Mrs. Radio, and The Wasp Woman—blend historical rigor with emotional truth, offering readers a new understanding of legacy and loss. With a PhD and a background in psychotherapy, she writes with rare compassion and insight, transforming historical research into living narrative. Her work has been featured in The Los Angeles Tribune, Film Daily, and The Wolfe Den Show. To explore more, visit her website or follow her on Facebook.

 

 

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