The Wicked Witch of the West was created by an author.
Lyman Frank Baum ( May 15 , 1856 -- May 6 , 1919 ) , better known by his pen name L. Frank Baum , was an American author chiefly known for his children 's books , particularly The Wonderful Wizard of Oz . The Wicked Witch of the West is a fictional character and the most significant antagonist in L. Frank Baum 's children 's book The Wonderful Wizard of Oz ( 1900 ) .