John Greenleaf Whittier: A sketch of his life, with selected poems

** "John Greenleaf Whittier: A Sketch of His Life, with Selected Poems" by Bliss Perry et al. is a tapestry of biography and verse that explores the life of John Greenleaf Whittier, a significant 19th-century American poet and staunch abolitionist. Through biographical narrative interwoven with selections of Whittier's poetry, the book paints a picture of a man deeply connected to nature and driven by his Quaker values. The opening of the biography dives into the solitude of his childhood in rural New England, a place of formative experiences and a deep-seated connection to the land. Perry underscores Whittier’s isolated yet intellectually and emotionally rich youth along with his early love for poetry. His journey reveals a transformation from a boy shaped by hardship to a man defined by his powerful voice against slavery and his enduring literary legacy. **