author
William Douglas O'Connor
1832–1889
Best remembered as one of Walt Whitman’s fiercest defenders, this American writer and civil servant moved easily between literature, reform, and public life. His work reflects the moral urgency of the Civil War era and a deep loyalty to the writers and causes he believed in.
3 Audiobooks
The Ghost
by William Douglas O'Connor
The Good Gray Poet, A Vindication
by William Douglas O'Connor
Harrington: A Story of True Love
by William Douglas O'Connor
About the author
Born in Boston in 1832, William Douglas O'Connor became an American journalist, author, and government employee whose career stretched across publishing and federal service. He worked on the editorial staff of the Saturday Evening Post and later held several positions in Washington, including work with the United States Light-House Board and the Life-Saving Service.
O'Connor is most often remembered for his close friendship with Walt Whitman. In 1866, after Whitman came under attack and lost a government post, O'Connor wrote The Good Gray Poet, a passionate defense that helped shape Whitman's public image for generations.
He also wrote fiction and criticism, including The Ghost, Harrington, and Hamlet's Note-Book. Though he died in 1889, O'Connor remains an interesting figure in nineteenth-century American letters: a committed abolitionist, an energetic man of letters, and a loyal advocate for writers he admired.