{"product_id":"song-of-myself-9781629672700","title":"Song of Myself","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cem\u003eSong of Myself: A Novel\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e is a gay man's odyssey of self-discovery. It is the story of Daniel Dell Blake, a gay man navigating his way through a tumultuous twentieth-century America. His rites of passage, including embracing his identity, garnering self-respect, and living with irrepressible creativity, will resonate for readers confronting today's culture wars. Daniel's struggles against societal norms, infused with wit, celebrate human resilience while offering historical insight, punctuated throughout by quotes from Walt Whitman, whose life and writings serve as a touchstone-to the narrator and to the reader-a testament to how truth and pride, and even humble efforts in the midst of monumental events become (in Whitman's words) \"the journey-work of the stars.\"\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cem\u003eSong of Myself: A Novel \u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003echronicles the gay experience from World War II through the early AIDS crisis. The novel, deeply influenced by Walt Whitman's work, offers a poignant reflection on the struggles and triumphs of the LGBTQ+ community during a pivotal era of social change.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eDr. Lawrence D. Mass, Kantrowitz's surviving life partner, provides context for the novel's relevance in today's socio-political climate. \"What was once a historical chronicle has become a cautionary tale,\" says Mass. \"Arnie's novel resonates strongly with current challenges to LGBTQ+ rights and recognition.\"\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe publication of \u003cstrong\u003e\u003cem\u003eSong of Myself: A Novel \u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003ecoincides with ongoing debates about the representation of historical figures' sexuality, including that of Walt Whitman himself. Kantrowitz, a devoted Whitman scholar, sought to affirm the poet's identity as gay throughout his career.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cem\u003eSong of Myself: A Novel\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e is described as a picaresque and bawdy novel, filled with adventure, humor, wisdom, and resilience. It stands as a testament to Kantrowitz's role as a sentinel voice in the Gay Liberation movement, advocating for self-realization and resistance against oppression.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cbr\u003e","brand":"Sentinel Voices","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":50889058255122,"sku":"9781629672700","price":18.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0831\/4771\/8930\/files\/img_2b78c37f-4385-4ba2-89f3-725e0742312b.jpg?v=1738159889","url":"https:\/\/surprise-castle.myshopify.com\/products\/song-of-myself-9781629672700","provider":"Surprise Castle","version":"1.0","type":"link"}