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

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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.