Leaves of Grass: The Original 1855 Unabridged and Complete Edition

by Walt Whitman

"Leaves of Grass" by Walt Whitman is a groundbreaking collection of poetry first published in 1855, celebrating the beauty of nature, the human experience, and the interconnectedness of all life. Whitman's free verse style and innovative use of language capture the essence of American democracy and individuality. The work reflects his love for humanity, nature, and the cosmos, inviting readers to explore themes of love, loss, and the spirit of the self. Through its rich imagery and heartfelt emotion, "Leaves of Grass" remains a timeless exploration of existence and a testament to Whitman's vision of a vibrant, diverse America.

13 pages, Kindle Edition

Published September 25, 2024

About the author

Walter Whitman Jr. was an American poet, essayist, and journalist. He is considered one of the most influential poets in American literature. Whitman incorporated both transcendentalism and realism in his writings and is often called the father of free verse. His work was controversial in his time, particularly his 1855 poetry collection Leaves of Grass, which was described by some as obscene for its overt sensuality.
Whitman was born in Huntington on Long Island, and lived in Brooklyn as a child and through much of his career. At the age of 11, he left formal schooling to go to work. He worked as a journalist, a teacher, and a government clerk. Whitman's major poetry collection, Leaves of Grass, first published in 1855, was financed with his own money and became well known. The work was an attempt to reach out to the common person with an American epic. Whitman continued expanding and revising Leaves of Grass until his death in 1892.
During the American Civil War, he went to Washington, D.C., and worked in hospitals caring for the wounded. His poetry often focused on both loss and healing. On the assassination of Abraham Lincoln, whom Whitman greatly admired, he authored two poems, "O Captain! My Captain!" and "When Lilacs Last in the Dooryard Bloom'd", and gave a series of lectures on Lincoln. After suffering a stroke towards the end of his life, Whitman moved to Camden, New Jersey, where his health further declined. When he died at the age of 72, his funeral was a public event.
Whitman's influence on poetry remains strong. Art historian Mary Berenson wrote, "You cannot really understand America without Walt Whitman, without Leaves of Grass... He has expressed that civilization, 'up to date,' as he would say, and no student of the philosophy of history can do without him." Modernist poet Ezra Pound called Whitman "America's poet... He is America."

Reviews

[Dorrie · Rating 3 out of 5]

I got this book because of the many references to it in Ann Napolitano's book Hello Beautiful, which I loved. In that book, Charlie, the kind and loving father, has memorized several lines from the poem "Leaves of Grass" and would often recite them to his four girls as they were growing up. Charlie had a positive view of death and what came after, which he tried to pass on to his daughters (in order to ease their fears) and which he attributed to reading Whitman's poetry. I tried, but I could not make any sense of "Leaves of Grass." It seemed like a lot of gibberish to me, which I will apologize in advance for saying. I guess I just don't "get" his poetry.

[Kimberly · Rating 1 out of 5]

not quite sure what this is; not complete, unabridged Leaves of Grass

Get another edition, not what it says it is. Very disappointing, hope I did not pay a lot for this version