Walt Whitman
by Paul Zweig

Walt Whitman by Paul Zweig offers a captivating study of the poet during the Civil War years, a period that marked a profound transformation in both his life and work. Zweig explores Whitman's personal and literary revolution, highlighting his experiences nursing war casualties and his advocacy for social emancipation, which helped shape him into the bold and innovative voice of American poetry.

As described on the back cover:

"Zweig presents Whitman as a ‘guerrilla at the edge of culture,’ challenging the oppressive values of his time and emerging as the hero of sexual freedom and the champion of the American people."

Praised by The New York Times for its insightful readings of Whitman’s major poems, this biography illuminates the life behind one of America's most original literary figures.

Book details:

Penguin Books 1986

Good, Edgewear, Fading, Sunning. The book's front cover shows various signs of wear, such as a dog-ear on the lower right corner and fading from sun exposure. The book also includes handwritten notes on a few pages.