Season 9, Episode 11 - Dennard Dayle
In this episode of History Through Fiction: The Podcast, host Colin Mustful interviews Dennard Tyler Dayle, author of How to Dodge a Cannonball. Dayle shares an excerpt and discusses his satirical take on the Civil War through the eyes of Anders, a teenage flag twirler. They explore the novel’s humor, unique structure, and the complexities of loyalty and survival. Dayle also reflects on his research, character development, and publishing journey, offering insight into the importance of staying sane amid chaos.
About the Author
Dennard Dayle specializes in writing, comedy, and illegal pranks. He wrote the newsletter 100+ humor columns at 1900HOTDOG, a bunch of New Yorker articles, this sweet story in space, and his debut book Everything Abridged .
Dayle studied “liking books” at Princeton and Columbia, where he spoke a great deal and learned very little. Now he teaches at Columbia for a MetroCard.
A teenage idealist stumbles through the absurdities of the Civil War, questioning loyalty, identity, and what it means to be American.
How to Dodge a Cannonball is a biting satire following Anders, a teenage flag twirler whose allegiances shift from Union to Confederacy to a Black regiment. As Anders navigates the chaos of war and identity, he encounters a cast of unforgettable characters and questions the meaning of loyalty, freedom, and belonging. Dennard Dayle’s novel hilariously reimagines the Civil War’s legacy.
