Elphaba Thropp is the central figure of Gregory Maguire’s reimagining of Oz. Born with green skin, she becomes the woman identified with the Wicked Witch of the West in the familiar Oz story.
Wicked tells Elphaba’s adult story and recasts Oz through its politics, religion, and social divisions. Later novels shift attention to her son Liir, the Cowardly Lion, and her granddaughter Rain.
Start with Wicked for Elphaba’s place in the series. Elphie returns to her childhood, but it is best read with the rest of the published sequence in mind.
Reading Order#
See the complete The Wicked Years reading order for all books in the series.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Elphaba?
Elphaba Thropp is the main character of Gregory Maguire’s Wicked Years series. Born with bright green skin, she is the woman who becomes the Wicked Witch of the West in the Land of Oz. Maguire’s novels reframe her as a political rebel and principled outcast rather than a villain.
What books does Elphaba appear in?
Elphaba appears in Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West (1995) and the prequel Elphie (2025), which covers her childhood. Her son Liir and granddaughter Rain carry on her story in Son of a Witch, A Lion Among Men, and Out of Oz.
Where does the name Elphaba come from?
Maguire formed Elphaba from the initials of L. Frank Baum, author of The Wonderful Wizard of Oz. Baum did not give the Wicked Witch of the West a personal name.