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Walt Whitman to William D. O'Connor, 27 July 1888

No particular set back but am still imprisoned by room and bed—very bad weakness of legs and body—the worst of head trouble disappeared—Thanks for your letter1—my little Nov. Boughs2 is ab't done (with copy)—rainy here today—I am sitting up—

Walt Whitman

Correspondent:
William Douglas O'Connor (1832–1889) was the author of the grand and grandiloquent Whitman pamphlet The Good Gray Poet: A Vindication, published in 1866. For more on Whitman's relationship with O'Connor, see Deshae E. Lott, "O'Connor, William Douglas (1832–1889)," Walt Whitman: An Encyclopedia, ed. J.R. LeMaster and Donald D. Kummings (New York: Garland Publishing, 1998).


Notes

  • 1. On July 25, 1888, O'Connor referred only briefly to his "own bad state" and expressed his gratitude that Whitman was recovering (see Horace Traubel, With Walt Whitman in Camden, Tuesday, August 21, 1888). Whitman observed of O'Connor's letter: "William always has the effect of the open air upon me." [back]
  • 2. Whitman's November Boughs was published in October 1888 by Philadelphia publisher David McKay. For more information on the book, see James E. Barcus Jr., "November Boughs [1888]," Walt Whitman: An Encyclopedia, ed. J.R. LeMaster and Donald D. Kummings (New York: Garland Publishing, 1998). [back]
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