Letter

Scope and Content

Refers to: a book by [William Sloane] Kennedy, which he has not seen, but about which he is highly sceptical, being convinced that most of the material in it is inaccurate information taken from news reports; a visit Kennedy made to Camden, during which he obtained various unfounded stories about Whitman's morals and habits from [James M.] Scovel, which [Thomas] Harned was unable to convince him not to use. Traubel criticizes careless writing, stressing that they now have enough material for a faithful portrayal of Whitman, and that most of the poet's story was told in Leaves of Grass and therefore should be left alone.