Wizard of Oz's Dorothy was 'first feminist role model'

28 April 2011 Last updated at 12:08 ET Help

When L Frank Baum wrote the Wonderful Wizard of Oz book, his choice of heroine was heavily influenced by the battle for women's rights.

In Aberdeen, South Dakota, where he lived at that time, the suffragette movement was very strong.

The Wonderful Wizard Of Oz: The True Story will be broadcast on Thursday 28 April at 2100 BST on BBC Four. It will also be available on the BBC iPlayer.

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