In "Complete Works of Artemus Ward Part 4, To California and Return," readers are treated to the wit and humor of the beloved American humorist, Artemus Ward. This collection of essays and sketches takes readers on a journey to California and back, offering hilarious observations and anecdotes along the way.

Ward's unique writing style and comedic timing shine through in each piece, making for an entertaining and enjoyable read. His clever wordplay and satirical commentary on society and culture provide insight into the time period in which these works were originally written.

Fans of Mark Twain and other humorists of the era will appreciate Ward's wit and charm. "To California and Return" is a delightful collection that showcases Ward's talent for storytelling and humor. Whether you're a longtime fan of his work or new to his writing, this book is sure to entertain and leave you laughing.

Book Description:
Charles Farrar Browne, a native of Maine, became famous as a writer and lecturer under the name of Artemus Ward. Like his friend Mark Twain, Browne worked as a type-setter in his youth and in 1858, began publishing a series of letters, essays, and stories told in the first person by a droll, illiterate rube with a good measure of subtle common sense who commented on the events and fads of the day. Taking his character to the stage as a lecturer, Browne became an early-day prototype of what we now name a stand-up comedian. Artemus Ward was such a favorite of President Abraham Lincoln that the chief executive read one of the Ward stories to his assembled cabinet officers before getting down to the business of discussing the proposed Emancipation Proclamation. Browne’s writings became popular in England as well as in America, and he travelled to Britain to perform his Artemus Ward lectures and contribute to the comic magazine Punch. Browne contracted tuberculosis and died at the age of thirty-two in Southampton. - Summary by Delmar H. Dolbier