A Parody Outline of History Wherein May Be Found a Curiously Irreverent Treatment of American Historical Events, Imagining Them as They Would Be Narrated by America's Most Characteristic Contemporary Authors

"A Parody Outline of History" by Donald Ogden Stewart is a humorous journey through American historical events, reimagined with the voices of well-known authors. It is a playful and cheeky exploration of significant moments in American history. Written in the style of early 20th-century, using the signature styles of famous authors to tell these stories with lighthearted humor. It begins with the notion that American history can most accurately be told by Americans, humorously criticizing H.G. Wells' exclusion of specific events in his historical outline. The stories will take on writers ranging from William Lyon Phelps to Sinclair Lewis, and others. In the first chapter, American history itself is commentated on where the narrator reflects on a performance of "Peter Pan" interweaving humorous stories involving figures such as Woodrow Wilson. This introduction sets the stage for the unique format of the book, setting the tone for historical fiction blended with comedic parodies that challenge America's traditional historical narrative.