Walt Whitman in Washington, D.C.: The Civil War and America's Great Poet

Set against the backdrop of the Civil War, the narrative explores Walt Whitman's personal journey to find his wounded brother and his subsequent role as a volunteer in hospitals, where he provided care to countless soldiers. His experiences inspired the publication of Drum-Taps, solidifying his connection to the war and to Abraham Lincoln. The book also highlights Whitman's life in Washington, D.C., as a federal clerk and his significant literary and romantic relationships, particularly with Peter Doyle. Garrett Peck offers a comprehensive account of this transformative period in Whitman's life.