The Orpheus C. Kerr Papers Vol. 1


Read by Margaret Espaillat

(4.2 stars; 2 reviews)

These are a collection of humorous "letters" written by a fictional character to a relation in the north during the Civil War. They were published regularly in the New York Mercury Sunday newspaper for the four years of the war. In the letters, Newell pokes fun at northern generals, politicians, and has hard things to say about southerners. Although Newell is rarely serious, I imagine the letters reflect the bitterness and frustration of many northerners at the time. (Introduction by Margaret)

Note: Chapters 20, 33, 43, and 49 were found to be cut short. Another reader added the missing portions, and the files were replaced on January 9, 2023. (8 hr 48 min)

Chapters

01 - Letter I 7:28 Read by Margaret Espaillat
02 - Letter II 13:18 Read by Margaret Espaillat
03 - Letter III 11:56 Read by Margaret Espaillat
04 - Letter IV 10:53 Read by Margaret Espaillat
05 - Letter V 6:33 Read by Margaret Espaillat
06 - Letter VI 10:28 Read by Margaret Espaillat
07 - Letter VII 5:59 Read by Margaret Espaillat
08 - Letter VIII 12:56 Read by Margaret Espaillat
09 - Letter IX 16:19 Read by Margaret Espaillat
10 - Letter X 11:04 Read by Margaret Espaillat
11 - Letter XI 8:38 Read by Margaret Espaillat
12 - Letter XII 9:02 Read by Margaret Espaillat
13 - Letter XIII 6:18 Read by Margaret Espaillat
14 - Letter XIV 8:28 Read by Margaret Espaillat
15 - Letter XV 5:12 Read by Margaret Espaillat
16 - Letter XVI 6:20 Read by Margaret Espaillat
17 - Letter XVII 8:06 Read by Margaret Espaillat
18 - Letter XVIII 5:34 Read by Margaret Espaillat
19 - Letter XIX 10:46 Read by Margaret Espaillat
20 - Letter XX 7:42 Read by Margaret Espaillat
21 - Letter XXI 11:01 Read by Margaret Espaillat
22 - Letter XXII 6:53 Read by Margaret Espaillat
23 - Letter XXIII 12:05 Read by Margaret Espaillat
24 - Letter XXIV 8:26 Read by Margaret Espaillat
25 - Letter XXV 12:03 Read by Margaret Espaillat
26 - Letter XXVI 4:17 Read by Margaret Espaillat
27 - Letter XXVII 9:03 Read by Margaret Espaillat
28 - Letter XXVIII 8:29 Read by Margaret Espaillat
29 - Letter XXIX 8:04 Read by Margaret Espaillat
30 - Letter XXX 10:30 Read by Margaret Espaillat
31 - Letter XXXI 8:56 Read by Margaret Espaillat
32 - Letter XXXII 15:57 Read by Margaret Espaillat
33 - Letter XXXIII 4:42 Read by Margaret Espaillat
34 - Letter XXXIV 14:39 Read by Margaret Espaillat
35 - Letter XXXV 13:39 Read by Margaret Espaillat
36 - Letter XXXVI 8:45 Read by Margaret Espaillat
37 - Letter XXXVII 8:13 Read by Margaret Espaillat
38 - Letter XXXVIII 15:01 Read by Margaret Espaillat
39 - Letter XXXIX 8:07 Read by Margaret Espaillat
40 - Letter XL 9:14 Read by Margaret Espaillat
41 - Letter XLI 8:44 Read by Margaret Espaillat
42 - Letter XLII 7:11 Read by Margaret Espaillat
43 - Letter XLIII 14:07 Read by Margaret Espaillat
44 - Letter XLIV 9:52 Read by Margaret Espaillat
45 - Letter XLV 11:28 Read by Margaret Espaillat
46 - Letter XLVI 9:08 Read by Margaret Espaillat
47 - Letter XLVII 7:35 Read by Margaret Espaillat
48 - Letter XLVIII 9:56 Read by Margaret Espaillat
49 - Letter XLIX 9:19 Read by Margaret Espaillat
50 - Letter L 15:15 Read by Margaret Espaillat
51 - Letter LI 18:11 Read by Margaret Espaillat
52 - Letter LII 13:11 Read by Margaret Espaillat

Reviews

Full of puns, ditties and lots of jabs at the Confederacy.


(5 stars)

I was chuckling the whole time