The Walt Whitman Archive
Commentary
Contemporary Reviews
About this Item
Title: [Review of Drum-Taps]
Creator: unknown [unsigned in original]
Date: December 18, 1865
Whitman Archive ID: anc.00057
Source: The San Francisco Bulletin 18 December 1865: 5. The electronic text for this file was prepared by Whitman Archive staff, who transcribed the text from a representation of the original (e.g., digital scan or other electronic reproduction, microfilm copy). For a description of the editorial rationale behind our treatment of the reviews, see our statement of editorial policy.
Contributors to digital file: Natalie O'Neal, Elizabeth Lorang, Vanessa Steinroetter, and Todd Stabley
Walt Whitman is the Poet of the Roughs. His style is as rowdyish as his habits. Some years ago he published a volume of trash entitled Leaves of Grass, in which he modestly characterized himself as 'Kosmos.' It was worse than stupid, it was beastly. This last effort lacks the obscenity of its predecessor, but it is equally destitute of merit. We cannot imagine any punishment more dreadful than that of being compelled to read it through.