John Greenleaf Whittier

Since he is possibly best known as an Abolitionist, it can come as a surprise to learn that during the Civil War years and their immediate aftermath, Whittier, in his maturity as both a man and a poet, is no longer writing the fiery verse propaganda in support of the cause that marked much of his earlier career, but has for some time been composing out of deeper inspiration and greater poetic resonance. His other poetic subjects apart from slavery—legend, history, nature, the past, and especially the spiritual life—come more to the fore, and even the poems he does write on the events of the day are often more skillful and fashioned with a broader scope. --Carol Iannone, John Greenleaf Whittier’s Civil War, Modern Age, Summer 2005


Recommended reading:
by John Greenleaf Whittier at Reading Rat