The Complete Works of Artemus Ward — Part 2: War

Artemus Ward’s voice barrels through a chaotic wartime landscape, offering sharp‑tongued commentary on everything from makeshift exhibitions to patriotic parades. In his signature blend of tall‑tale storytelling and dead‑pan satire, he recounts getting his traveling show seized by Southern troops, navigating a fever‑ish draft meeting, and delivering a hilariously earnest Fourth‑of‑July oration. The humor lands in the everyday absurdities that surface when patriotic fervor collides with ordinary life, all filtered through Ward’s larger‑than‑life narrator who treats each mishap as a chance for a witty riff.

The second half of the collection expands the battlefield into taverns, town squares, and even a whispered letter from a “gory member of the Home Guard.” Listeners will hear sketches on the draft in Baldinsville, a tongue‑in‑cheek surrender of Cornwallis, and a baffling encounter with a Prince of Wales, each piece exposing the quirks of a nation at war while keeping the tone light and infectious. It’s a vivid, comedic snapshot of a turbulent era that rewards anyone who enjoys clever, historically rooted satire.