A Lion Among Men (2008) by Gregory Maguire is the third installment in the Wicked Years series, a darkly imaginative reimagining of L. Frank Baum’s The Wonderful Wizard of Oz. This novel shifts focus to the enigmatic Cowardly Lion, known here as Brrr, whose journey through Oz’s political turmoil and moral ambiguities reveals his complex past—from his outcast cubhood to his reluctant entanglement in the war between the Wizard and the Witches. As Brrr seeks redemption, Maguire weaves in fan-favorite characters like Yackle and Elphaba’s legacy, blending political satire, philosophical depth, and fairy-tale revisionism.
The 2008 William Morrow first edition (jacketed hardcover) features haunting cover art of the Lion, while later paperback editions align with the series’ signature aesthetic. Though not as explosively popular as Wicked, this volume deepens Oz’s lore with Maguire’s signature lyrical prose and antiheroic pathos.
