The story of Elphaba before she became the Wicked Witch of the West in the land of Oz. The novel traces her career as nun, nurse, pro-democracy activist and animal rights defender.

Reader's group guide: p. 407-409.

Prologue : on the Yellow Brick Road -- I. Munchkinlanders -- The root of evil -- The clock of the time dragon -- The birth of a witch -- Maladies and remedies -- The quadling glassblower -- Geographies of the seen and the unseen -- Child's play -- Darkness abroad -- II. Gillikin -- Galinda -- Bog -- The charmed circle -- III. The city of emeralds -- IV. In the Vinkus -- The voyage out -- The Jasper Gates of Kiamo Ko -- Uprising -- V. The murder and its afterlife.