From Noon to Starry Night: A Life of Walt Whitman

by Philip Callow

Callow's evocative new life of Walt Whitman captures the elusive truth of the great poet of democracy. His prose is clear and easy and elegant, his observation sharp but kind and never superficial. —V. S. Naipaul.

Genres: Biography, Poetry

411 pages, Hardcover

First published July 25, 1990

About the author

British novelist, poet, and biographer.

Reviews

[Rob Pritts · Rating 5 out of 5]

The best biography of Whitman ever written. Callow puts you in the mid 1800s and you can smell the leaves and feel the grass.

"THOU orb aloft full-dazzling! thou hot October noon!
Flooding with sheeny light the gray beach sand,
The sibilant near sea with vistas far and foam,
And tawny streaks and shades and spreading blue;
O sun of noon refulgent! my special word to thee."

[Nick Reeves · Rating 3 out of 5]

He sings the body electric! The first man of rhythm & rhyme. American pioneer.

[Tom Walsh]

good bio of one of my favorite poets. he was a genuine humanitarian.