Collodion

By: Greg Morgan

Narrated by: Jason Gerber

In the 1840s to '50s America, both photography and embalming the dead came into standard practice. On the autism spectrum, Osborn Roche is a well-respected postmortem and battlefield photographer during the civil war. He and his nephew Ray travel with the Union army, photographing battlefields and doing portraits for the soldiers.

When Osborn meets Lou, a young woman dressed as a man to work as an embalmer for the Union army, he is drawn to her beautiful, flickering, golden-brown irises, a condition known as nystagmus and also a condition Osborn's mother had. Only a day later, he sees that Lou is also on the autism spectrum as he is, and they become best friends.

Lou works with her famous father Henry Cattell, a true historical man and embalmer of President Lincoln and his son Willy. From misinformation, Henry has strong feelings that his daughter should never marry or have children due to her condition. When he thinks their friendship may blossom into courtship, Henry threatens Osborn and takes Lou away. Having been picked on his whole life and never having a friend before, Osborn is broken without her, but goes on with Ray back to the Union army.

By accidentally being in the middle of the battle of Corinth, he becomes a very famous photographer with a published book of it. He and Ray attend his war photography book signing, and Lou shows up in line with her uncle Ben. Ben explains that her father would have Lou sterilized by a surgical procedure and that he needs to get her away. Lou runs off with Osborn, his nephew Ray, and a runaway slave named Abigail, all heading back to their home in Pittsburgh, but are pursued by the Union army.

Along the way, Osborn and Lou decide to marry to thwart Henry's claim. Henry convinces the authorities that Lou's condition is insanity and that she has no idea what she's doing. Lou and Osborn must escape again, but this time to Indian territory, a place they should never be found.

©2020 Greg Morgan (P)2021 Greg Morgan

Interesting information audio-book.

‘Collodion’ audiobook has it all and Greg Morgan develops this storyline much in the same way as Osborn Roche, the Civil War and post mortem photographer tells a story through his pictures.

Just awesome book for listening

I love the history, and the detailed analysis on the chemistry, as well as the resources. It is extremely well written, and is eminently readable.

MUST READ historical fiction

I felt so connected to Osborne, i haven’t fell in love with a character like this in a long time. The story is so captivating and historically interesting. I never wanted it to end. Cannot wait to read the 3rd book

People need to listen this book!

this is an awesome beginning to expertise a Collodion but a touch simple, I wanted extra in-intensity information approximately a way to cope and manage other power.

i love this audiobook

splendid Characters ! fully formed, properly-defined, and imminently lovely.There's just so much history to glean from this book!