The Orpheus C. Kerr Papers, Series 2

"The Orpheus C. Kerr Papers, Series 2" by R. H. Newell is a comical series of fictional letters, focusing on the social and military background of the American Civil War, as told through the eyes of Orpheus C. Kerr, a witty correspondent with a talent for finding irony. The book is focused on how well the military works, how society acts, and the strange things that happen during war, mixing humor with observant opinions on the politics and culture of that time. At the beginning, we meet Orpheus C. Kerr as he struggles to describe a battle while dealing with censorship, comparing himself to an artist painting a weird request. We also get to know people from the Mackerel Brigade, with the proud General and Captain Villiam Brown being examples of both the courage and mistakes made in the military. The first part of the book creates a tone that promises a funny look at the foolish things that happen during war, as well as how the characters relate to each other and the important connection they have to a tense situation.