A Parody Outline of History

1921. A parody of H.G. Wells' "Outline of History." Stewart satirizes the writing styles of Sinclair Lewis, Ring Lardner, F. Scott Fitzgerald, Thornton Burgess, Edith Wharton, Eugene O'Neill and others in his sort of addendum to Wells' book. Covers the pilgrims, the revolution, Custer's last stand and the Great War among other brief episodes of American History. Very funny. Reminds me of Thorne Smith.

The idea behind this 1921 work was clever. As a sequel to HG Wells' venerable "Outline of History", it presented satirical accounts of important events in US history, each written in the style of a famous contemporary author of the day. Thus, we are provided with amusing accounts of such events as Columbus' voyage, Custer's Last Stand, the courtship of Miles Standish, the Whiskey Rebellion, and satires of the writing styles of such authors as F. Scott Fitzgerald, Edith Wharton, Sinclair Lewis, Eugene O'Neill, among others. Unfortunately, this book will hold little attraction to most current readers. As for me, having read works of most of the authors satirized, I didn't find the styles sufficiently recognizable -- most likely an show more indication of my own insufficient perceptions.

Readers can find a free version at Gutenberg,
https://www.gutenberg.org/files/1478/1478-h/1478-h.htm

and a free audio version at Librivox
https://librivox.org/a-parody-outline-of-history-by-donald-ogden-stewart/

Below are the chapters included:

I INTRODUCTION: A Critical Survey of American History In the Manner of
William Lyon Phelps

II CRISTOFER COLOMBO: A Comedy of Discovery In the Manner of James
Branch Cabell

III MAIN STREET: Plymouth, Mass In the Manner of Sinclair Lewis

IV THE COURTSHIP OF, MILES STANDISH In the Manner of F. Scott Fitzgerald

V THE SPIRIT OF '75: Letters of a Minute Man In the Manner of Ring
Lardner

VI THE WHISKY REBELLION In the Bedtime Story Manner of Thornton W.
Burgess

VII HOW LOVE CAME TO GENERAL GRANT In the Manner of Harold Bell Wright

VIII CUSTER'S LAST STAND In the Manner of Edith Wharton

IX FOR THE FREEDOM OF THE WORLD: A Drama of the Great War Act I—In the
Manner of Mary Raymond Shipman Andrews Act 2—In the Manner of Eugene
O'Neill show less