
audiobook
A delightfully irreverent tour of America begins long before the famous voyages, treating the continent’s imagined pre‑history with the same cheeky eye as the later chapters of settlement and nation‑building. The author frames the narrative as a conversation with the listener, sprinkling scholarly references and “laughing facts” amid vivid anecdotes that poke fun at the grand myths historians have long cherished.
From the fanciful claims of ancient civilizations roaming the New World to the boisterous exploits of early explorers, colonial governors, and the quirks of everyday life in fledgling towns, the work balances wit with surprisingly sharp observation. Original illustrations, described in lively prose, add a visual punch that translates well to an audio format, inviting listeners to picture the satire as it unfolds. Whether recounting the absurdities of early witch trials, the flamboyant fashion of the frontier, or the spirited debates of the young republic, the book offers a brisk, entertaining chronicle that makes history feel both accessible and amusing.
Language
en
Duration
~13 hours (750K characters)
Publisher of text edition
Project Gutenberg
Original publisher
United States: Fields, Osgood, & Co., 1869.
Credits
Emmanuel Ackerman, KD Weeks and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net (This file was produced from images generously made available by The Internet Archive)
Release date
2023-06-16
Rights
Public domain in the USA.

1818–1891
Best known for blending humor with history, this 19th-century writer brought American subjects to life with a light, satirical touch. He was also a lawyer and wide-ranging traveler, experiences that seem to have fed his curiosity and eye for detail.
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