author
William Douglas O'Connor
1832–1889
Best remembered as one of Walt Whitman’s fiercest defenders, this 19th-century American writer mixed literary ambition with political conviction. His work and public advocacy helped shape how Whitman was received in his own lifetime.
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 was an American author, journalist, and government clerk whose name is closely tied to the literary world around Walt Whitman. He wrote fiction as well as criticism, but he is most often remembered for The Good Gray Poet (1866), a passionate defense of Whitman after the poet was dismissed from a federal job.
O'Connor was also associated with antislavery causes and reform-minded circles, and his writing carried a strong sense of moral energy. Alongside his literary work, he held several government posts in Washington, which placed him near the political currents of the Civil War era and its aftermath.
Though not as widely read today as some of his contemporaries, O'Connor remains an interesting figure in American literary history: a loyal friend, an energetic advocate, and a writer whose reputation endures largely through his role in championing Whitman.