The Neglected Walt Whitman: Vital Texts

by D. Sam Abrams

Book by Whitman, Walt

Genres: Poetry

200 pages, Paperback

First published April 1, 1993

About the author

Sam Abrams o D. Sam Abrams (nom complet: Donald Samuel Abrams Levy, Beckley, Virgínia Occidental, 1952) és un poeta, assagista, traductor i crític literari estatunidenc.

Reviews

[John Fredrickson · Rating 3 out of 5]

I found this book to be a little puzzling. Abrams's intro seems to indicate that there is much to be gained by a consideration of some long-neglected poems and prose by Whitman. Abrams is in clear command of Whitman as well as Whitman's critics, but his line of thought in this book doesn't match with my reading of the material.

An interesting case in point is the treatment of homo-eroticism. It is true that in Calamus 9, the longing for his (male) friend is plain and palpable, but in numerous of the other poems, Whitman takes pains to make women in power and worth. Granted, his focus is on men as his interest, but his attitude to women and their rights feels exceptionally modern to me.

I found the poetry especially to be generally uninspiring, and sometimes even somewhat anti-Whitman in tone and outlook. The irony and negativity of 'Respondez' had me thinking it was a Whitman spoof of some sort. The essay 'An American Primer' felt much more like Whitman in the sweep of its tone and content, though it curiously exhibits Whitman extending his all-encompassing sweep of loving humanity to a similar embrace of the English language.

[Nathan · Rating 5 out of 5]

The fifth star in my rating applies not to the entirety of the book, but to Whitman's essay calling for a "perfect dictionary" inclusive of the slang he writes about elsewhere. While much of Adler's collection isn't that important to me, this particular text is crucial; its placement here makes the volume essential.