The Good Gray Poet: A Vindication.

Walt Whitman [William Douglas O'Connor]

Published by Bunce & Huntington, 1866

About this Item

One of the scarcest Walt Whitman items*** First edition, first printing of the first separately published work on Walt Whitman - an extreme rarity. *** Publisher's wrappers. Covers lightly stained mostly along the margins, 1.5 inch split at upper joint, half-inch split along spine foot. Interior quite clean. Overall, a nice Very Good copy housed in a custom quarter morocco slipcase and chemise. *** In 1865, O Connor - daguerreotypist, writer, journalist, and editor - helped Whitman procure a clerkship in the Department of the Interior s Indian Affairs Bureau. A few months later, Secretary of the Interior James Harlan fired Whitman because of his disgust with Leaves of Grass. O Connor acted promptly to aid his close friend - pulling strings to secure Whitman another government job and publishing this pamphlet refuting Secretary Harlan and other critics. The work also praises Whitman s character and genius. Good Gray Poet would remain a popular moniker, and Whitman s readership and reputation was permanently bolstered. *** An important piece in the American icon s canon. *** Epilogue: Significant differences over Reconstruction policy dissolved the two men s long, close friendship - most notably, O Connor supported the 15th Amendment(extending the vote to black men) and Whitman didn t. O Connor s marriage also fractured, as his wife sided with Whitman. *** Ref: The Walt Whitman Archive***Please email us for better pricing.

Seller Inventory # ABE-1758130716827

Bibliographic Details

• Title: The Good Gray Poet: A Vindication.
• Publisher: Bunce & Huntington
• Publication Date: 1866
• Binding: Soft cover
• Edition: 1st Edition
• Condition: Very Good