Complete Prose Works: Specimen Days And Collect, November Boughs And Goodbye My Fancy

by Walt Whitman

Meantime, in Washington, among the great persons and their entourage, a mixture of awful consternation, uncertainty, rage, shame, helplessness, and stupefying disappointment. The worst is not only imminent, but already here. In a few hours--perhaps before the next meal--the secesh generals, with their victorious hordes, will be upon us. The dream of humanity, the vaunted Union we thought so strong, so impregnable--lo! it seems already smash'd like a china plate. One bitter, bitter hour--perhaps proud America will never again know such an hour. She must pack and fly--no time to spare.

Genres: Classics, Poetry, Classic Literature, Essays

Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 1872

About the author

Walter Whitman Jr. was an American poet, essayist, and journalist. He is considered one of the most influential poets in American literature. Whitman incorporated both transcendentalism and realism in his writings and is often called the father of free verse. His work was controversial in his time, particularly his 1855 poetry collection Leaves of Grass, which was described by some as obscene for its overt sensuality.
Whitman was born in Huntington on Long Island, and lived in Brooklyn as a child and through much of his career. At the age of 11, he left formal schooling to go to work. He worked as a journalist, a teacher, and a government clerk. Whitman's major poetry collection, Leaves of Grass, first published in 1855, was financed with his own money and became well known. The work was an attempt to reach out to the common person with an American epic. Whitman continued expanding and revising Leaves of Grass until his death in 1892.
During the American Civil War, he went to Washington, D.C., and worked in hospitals caring for the wounded. His poetry often focused on both loss and healing. On the assassination of Abraham Lincoln, whom Whitman greatly admired, he authored two poems, "O Captain! My Captain!" and "When Lilacs Last in the Dooryard Bloom'd", and gave a series of lectures on Lincoln. After suffering a stroke towards the end of his life, Whitman moved to Camden, New Jersey, where his health further declined. When he died at the age of 72, his funeral was a public event.
Whitman's influence on poetry remains strong. Art historian Mary Berenson wrote, "You cannot really understand America without Walt Whitman, without Leaves of Grass... He has expressed that civilization, 'up to date,' as he would say, and no student of the philosophy of history can do without him." Modernist poet Ezra Pound called Whitman "America's poet... He is America."

Reviews

[Chloe Renee Saldana · Rating 5 out of 5]

A hefty one!

This is a very scrutinized insight of Walt Whitman's world and life from the genius himself. Very detailed about all his reminiscences, it gives a rich feeling of diving into one's life and seeing and feeling everything in his true sense. Not surprised about his floral and Nature embracing prose, be prepared to spend more than a week with this one!

[John Yelverton · Rating 3 out of 5]

It is an interesting collection of poetry. "Goodbye My Fancy" is the best of the bunch, and to be honest, it is just okay.

[Suzanne Singman · Rating 3 out of 5]

This kind of book is not for everyone. It was written in the 1890's ( i think). The language and style is of the time period very flowery and descriptive. But he writes a lot about working in the hospitals of the war of secession. (the civil war). a very interesting perspective. Then he writes of New York City, which i don't know well, but imagine that if i were from that area it would be interesting to hear how the city has changed and what the landscape used to be like - wild and beautiful.

[Jenny Clark · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a huge book, and it took me years to finish! Walt Whitman is at his best describing nature, and he is a product of his time for sure. I did enjoy this and can see why he was requested for lectures.
Check out my YouTube channel for bookish videos and monthly wrap ups!

[J Vic · Rating 3 out of 5]

This took longer to read than my normal books I read. I love his work, but I find i tend to read bits at a time since it is not one complete story.

[Alen Brletić · Rating 3 out of 5]

Previše smrti za moj ukus.

[Auke · Rating 2 out of 5]

The American Imperialism blows quite stiffly this morning

[D.M. Kilgore · Rating 4 out of 5]

Beautiful collection. I only had to read certain excerpts for my class but ended up reading the entire work.