Franklin Evans or The Inebriate: A Tale of the Times, is the rag-to-riches story of Franklin Evans. Franklin starts as an innocent young man, leaving Long Island to come to New York City for the opportunity to better himself. Being young and naïve, he is easily influenced by a man he befriended and eventually becomes a drunkard. He tries many times to abstain from alcohol but does not succeed until a major tragedy struck him. Franklin Evans scuttles through a journey of a young man living and learning through his mistakes, picking up life lessons along the way.

Walt Whitman (1819-1892) was an American poet, essayist, and journalist. A humanist, he was a part of the transition between transcendentalism and realism, incorporating both views in his works. Whitman is among the most influential poets in the American canon, often called the father of free verse. His work was controversial in its time, particularly his poetry collection Leaves of Grass. Whitman's work breaks the boundaries of poetic form and is generally prose-like. He is often labeled as the father of free verse.