Reviews for The Better Angel: Walt Whitman in the Civil War

The average rating for The Better Angel: Walt Whitman in the Civil War based on 2 reviews is 5 stars.

Review # 1 was written on 2017-03-21 00:00:00 Wenona Jones Walt Whitman's Civil War "The Better Angel" is a study of Walt Whitman's activities during the American Civil War. Prior to the War, Whitman had already written most of the poetry that would ultimately establish his reputation as the greatest and most quintesssentially American poet. With the publication of his Civil War poems, "Drum -Taps" and works in commemoration of President Lincoln (primarily, "When Lilacs Last in Dooryard Bloomed", Whitman had a second flowering as a poet. These works bear eloquent testimony to the trials that the United States had undergone and to Whitman's vision of America. Morris's book begins with Whitman in New York City at the outbreak of the War with the poet living a rootless, somewhat purposeless life focused on the bohemian taverns of New York City. With the thought that his brother George might be wounded at the battle of Fredericksburg, Whitman visited the site, viewed the carnage of the War, and returned changed. The book details how Whitman worked as a nurse in Washington D.C. visiting and tending the sick and wounded. Morris presents graphic descriptions of Civil War Era illnesses and wounds and of the relatively primitive state of American medicine for treating the endless ranks of the sick and wounded. Whitman made the rounds of the hospitals, brought cheer and comfort to the sick, wrote letters for them home and made them small gifts of food, tobacco, and necessaries. He received the gratitude of many a young man and his family. Morris establishes the distinguished character of Whitman's war service. In some instances, Whitman became emotionally and perhaps homoerotically attached to the young men in his charge. Morris's descriptions of these relationships are models of restraint and judgment. Throughout the study, Morris amplifies his discussion of Whitman's war activities by quotations from his great collection of Civil War poetry, "Drum Taps". Little is known about the precise dates of composition of the poems in this collection. They represent, however, a major literary legacy of the Civil War era. I turned to and reread the poems with renewed understanding after completing Morris's biography. The Civil War was a watershed for the United States both politically and culturally. Whitman and his contemporary, Herman Melville, were among the few writers whose work encompasses both sides of the Civil War divide. Both wrote memorable books of poetry about the War. (Melville's book is titled "Battle-Pieces".) In their poignancy, variety, and sweep, Whitman's poetry can illuminate the meaning of the Civil War and the promise of the United States. This book, in turn, illuminates Whitman, his work and his life. Robin Friedman

Review # 2 was written on 2009-06-05 00:00:00 Antonis Iconomou Read this book. Next read Whitman's poem "Come Up from the Fields Father." Then you will understand the price one pays to transform grief and compassion into great art.