Some Men Search for Gold.
Others search for something far more elusive.
A literary Western about gold, friendship, wilderness, and what gives a life value.
About Whitman’s Burden
High in the rugged Colorado mountains, prospector Levi Grey follows a trail of clues and a dream most dismiss as folly, a hidden vein of gold buried somewhere beneath the peaks. With little more than determination, Walt Whitman’s poetry, and the steadfast companionship of his burro, Whitman, he ventures into the wilderness in search of treasure.
Together they face treacherous terrain, violent storms, abandoned claims, and the relentless hardships of frontier life. But when disaster strikes, Levi must confront not only the challenge of survival, but the deeper questions that have followed him throughout his wandering life.
What Readers Are Saying
Whitman’s Burden delivers wild adventure and moments when time almost stops for beauty. The loyal bond of beast and man, the longing for deep human connection, and what it means to live free in any circumstance will leave you haunted and so glad you met Levi and Whitman.
— Stephanie Kunstle
Hewn from memory and the marrow of the West… Whitman carries more than weight. He carries a life’s worth of moments Levi never knew mattered until now. A tale that reminds us that wisdom and grace don’t always arrive on noble terms.
— Aaron Lubelski
I started Whitman’s Burden expecting a fun adventure story, but what I found was so much deeper. I feel like a better person for having read it. Highly, highly recommended.
— ED BROWN
The Book
A literary Western about gold, friendship, wilderness, and what gives a life value.
About the Author
Will Leitch writes about the American West, resilience, and the bonds that sustain us. When he’s not writing, you’ll find him in the mountains, preferably without a burro.
Author Photo by kirawhitney.com