My hipster English professor always preached a hippy Whitman. This period, and his letters, were passed over in a sentence in our class. I like this Whitman better. Not that he wasn't ahead of his time in some ways. But there's more to him than just that.

This book bowled me over. The grim, shadowy, sometimes symbolically expressive illustrations combined with the text and bleakness of our political landscape right now... it was a powerful combination. And the melodramatic Dead Poets Society doesn't hurt. ( )