
A kaleidoscopic collage of verse and prose, this work stitches together a chorus of biting satirical snapshots from a turbulent era. Fragmented poems echo Shakespearean lines while lampooning the Copperhead faction, war‑torn soldiers, and the fevered politics of abolition and union. The language swings between mordant wit and vivid, almost surreal imagery—snakes crushing boots, dragons leaving cursed eggs, and restless giants wrestling serpents—creating a lively, if chaotic, portrait of a nation in conflict.
Listening feels like wandering through a bustling tavern of 19th‑century voices, each offering a sharp, rhythmic commentary on loyalty, dissent, and the absurdities of power. The piece’s off‑beat structure invites you to pause, smile, and reflect on how history’s heated debates still reverberate today. It’s a compelling blend of humor and history that rewards attentive ears with fresh perspectives on familiar struggles.
Language
en
Duration
~12 minutes (11K characters)
Publisher of text edition
Project Gutenberg
Credits
Produced by David Widger from page images generously provided by the Internet Archive
Release date
2014-03-31
Rights
Public domain in the USA.

1824–1903
An American writer, folklorist, and journalist, he spent much of his career chasing down old stories, popular traditions, and hidden corners of European culture. His books range from humor and travel writing to influential studies of Romani traditions and Italian folk beliefs.
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1828–1868
A mid-19th-century travel writer, he is remembered for Americans in Rome (1863), a lively look at Roman social life and the experience of Americans abroad. His name also turns up alongside his older brother, the writer Charles Godfrey Leland, in period publications of the Civil War era.
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