The Better Angel: Walt Whitman in the Civil War
by Roy Morris, Jr.
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Description
This biography recounts Walt Whitman's experiences of the American Civil War. For nearly three years, the erstwhile poet immersed himself in the devastation of the war, tending to thousands of wounded soldiers and recording his experience with immediacy and compassion.Tags
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Member Reviews
Morris has created a thrilling narrative and compelling portrait of one of the greatest of American poets. Focusing on Whitman's time spent as nurse and chronicler of the Civil War the work presents a particularly thorough and informative account of his activities during that period. Overall it is a balanced and insightful portrait of a complex man discovering himself and his poetry through the injured sons of the nation he loved.
One of the best books I've ever read. "The Better Angel: Walt Whitman in the Civil War" is a biography of the poet/writer, with special emphasis on the years 1861 to 1865, during which he visited and championed wounded soldiers in military hospitals. It's also a commentary and history of the Civil War, life in Washington D.C., and the life and death of Abraham Lincoln. Excerpts of Whitman's poetry appear in the context of when and where it was written, as well as the circumstances of why he was moved to write it. Endnotes, Bibliography, and Indexed. Very highly recommended.
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Author Information
22+ Works 937 Members
Roy Morris, Jr. is the editor of Military Heritage magazine and the author of five books on the Civil War and post-Civil War eras, including Lighting Out for the Territory: How Samuel Clemens Headed West and Became Mark Twain and The Better Angel: Walt Whitman in the Civil War.
Common Knowledge
- People/Characters
- Walt Whitman; George Whitman; Peter Doyle; James Burroughs; Abraham Lincoln
- Important places
- Brooklyn, New York, USA; New York, New York, USA; Washington, D.C., USA; Fredericksburg, Virginia, USA
- Important events
- Assassination of Abraham Lincoln
- Quotations
- "The people who like the wars should be compelled to fight the wars." (page 119)
Classifications
- Genres
- Biography & Memoir, Literature Studies and Criticism, Fiction and Literature
- DDC/MDS
- 811.3 — Literature & rhetoric American literature in English American poetry in English Middle 19th century 1830–1861
- LCC
- PS3232 .M67 — Language and Literature American literature American literature Individual authors 19th century
- BISAC
Statistics
- Members
- 152
- Popularity
- 214,442
- Reviews
- 2
- Rating
- (4.21)
- Languages
- English
- Media
- Paper, Ebook
- ISBNs
- 6
- ASINs
- 2
