Walt Whitman was a poetic Visionary. He published the first edition of this monumental work in 1855 and began his magnum opus with the words, "America does not repel the past of what it has produced." He asserted in his declaration: America is "essentially the greatest poem." And he qualified this remark by stating that the "genius of the United States," that which is at the core, the essence of the poem of America, is "always most in the common people." Whitman wrote for and about the common people, and wanted his work to somehow bring about a political renewal that would truly represent the grand Idea of democracy. In this book Whitman overturns centuries of Western political and social thought. Whitman's democratic vision was something so unprecedented in so many ways that his reception at first could be characterized as utter incomprehension. It is believed that only a couple hundred people, at most, read the original 1855 edition of Leaves of Grass and many of these readers did not know what to make of the book. Some people were completely outraged and offended. Others were enraptured. Whitman was the self appointed poet-prophet of America and created, where he saw a lack, a new democratic religious understanding for the modern world.
Leaves of Grass: The First Edition (1855)
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Book Description
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Editorial Reviews
From School Library Journal
Grade 6 Up-By Walt Whitman. Narrated by Flo Gibson.
Copyright 1998 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to the Audio Cassette edition.
Copyright 1998 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to the Audio Cassette edition.
Review
"Whitman should be kicked from all decent society as below the level of a brute."
-The Intelligencer, 1855
"The greatest of our poets . . . the American bard, our Homer and our Milton."
-Harold Bloom, 2005
--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
-The Intelligencer, 1855
"The greatest of our poets . . . the American bard, our Homer and our Milton."
-Harold Bloom, 2005
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More About the Author
Walt Whitman was born on May 31, 1819, near Huntington, Long Island, New York. On July 4, 1855, the first edition of Leaves of Grass, the volume of poems that for the next four decades would become his lifes work, was placed on sale. Although some critics treated the volume as a joke and others were outraged by its unprecedented mixture of mysticism and earthiness, the book attracted the attention of some of the finest literary intelligences. His poetry slowly achieved a wide readership in America and in England, where he was praised by Swinburne and Tennyson. (D. H. Lawrence later referred to Whitman as the"greatest modern poet, and"the greatest of Americans. Whitman suffered a stroke in 1873 and was forced to retire to Camden, New Jersey, where he would spend the last twenty years of his life. There he continued to write poetry, and in 1881 the seventh edition of Leaves of Grass was published to generally favorable reviews. However, the book was soon banned in Boston on the grounds that it was obscene literature. In January 1892 the final edition of Leaves of Grass appeared on sale, and Whitman's life work was complete. He died two months later on the evening of March 26, 1892, and was buried four days afterward at Harleigh Cemetery in Camden.
Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
116 of 126 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
Whitman's "Leaves of Grass" is a collection of some of the finest American free-verse poetry ever written. Outward from his home on Brooklyn, Whitman soars out over our great nation, painting a sweeping portrait of mid-nineteenth century America and its diverse inhabitants. Whitman covers a panorama of ideas and themes, from lofty, aloof musings on the nature of man, to piercing depictions of the horrors of war. Gems of wisdom hang from Whitman's web of of verse like dew drops - easy to see but hard to grasp. This is a powerful work, and a never-ending source of beauty. Unfortunately for me, I am not a big fan of free verse, making this work harder for me to enjoy than I had hoped.
Which edition do I recommend? That really depends on what you are looking for. If you are just interested in getting a taste of Whitman, I would recommend some of the abridged versions. I don't feel that reading all 700+ pages of Whitman's poetry is necessary for anyone but his biggest fans and students. For a complete version, I found the Modern Library edition acceptable, but nothing spectacular. This work has a multitude of editions, and I would recommend actually holding them in your hand before making a decision on which best suits your needs.
144 of 165 people found the following review helpful
By Phil Padwe
Format:Mass Market Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
Although the poems are beautiful... and I certainly don't mean to bash Whitman with this 2-star rating... it's the wrong book. NOT AS ADVERTISED. This was supposed to be the original 1855 edition. That's what I expected, and therefore (in my mind) what I was paying for. The original 1855 edition, according to modern literary analysis, was the "strongest/purest" version. It was the true starting point of Whitman's own (and consequently America's) poetic awakening. Consisting of just 12 "perfect" poems, it was THAT edition which Emerson praised so highly.
Whitman never put out another book... just revision after revision, addition after addition, and edition after edition of Leaves Of Grass... until you wind up with "the deathbed edition" which is a severely bloated and different work from the original.
I was very much looking forward to a slender volume of the original edition. Which is what the item description says this is. It's not. Be forewarned... it's the Deathbed Edition of 1892... nearly 500 pages. And frankly, there are MUCH better versions of the deathbed edition. Sturdier versions with nicer pages exist (this is a pretty weak paperback, printed on pulp pages), with better footnotes and more authoritive introductions. Shop around.
To sum up... the 2 star rating is because lying about which edition this is, is a terrible way to sell the book. Whitman was fantastic and the poetry contained in the book itself is first rate. It just would have been nice to get what I paid for. The "true" editon, written by a YOUNG Whitman at the height of his powers...
Whitman never put out another book... just revision after revision, addition after addition, and edition after edition of Leaves Of Grass... until you wind up with "the deathbed edition" which is a severely bloated and different work from the original.
I was very much looking forward to a slender volume of the original edition. Which is what the item description says this is. It's not. Be forewarned... it's the Deathbed Edition of 1892... nearly 500 pages. And frankly, there are MUCH better versions of the deathbed edition. Sturdier versions with nicer pages exist (this is a pretty weak paperback, printed on pulp pages), with better footnotes and more authoritive introductions. Shop around.
To sum up... the 2 star rating is because lying about which edition this is, is a terrible way to sell the book. Whitman was fantastic and the poetry contained in the book itself is first rate. It just would have been nice to get what I paid for. The "true" editon, written by a YOUNG Whitman at the height of his powers...
95 of 108 people found the following review helpful
By clang_the_o
Format:Mass Market Paperback
Words cannot describe the complexity of Leaves of Grass. I am constantly amazed at how well Walt Whitman holds it all together, keeping is hand on one object while amorously praising another. Everything works in perfect cohesion...An unabashed love of self, of nature, of all that is divine and not divine. Leaves of Grass is a truly inspired work...its words are boundless and fluent, rising in an intoxicating crescendo of naked emotion. "I am the poet of the Body; and I am the poet of the Soul." Throughout Leaves of Grass there is an overwhelming theme of unity...unity of man and nature, of man and man, of man and God. Excitable sputterings of ageless wisdom become scattered, but somehow stay anchored to the intricate framework of the book. This sounds contradicting, and it is reminiscent of a line from the book --"Do I contradict myself? Very well, then, I contradict myself; (I am large-I contain multitudes.) After reading this book, you will delight in how large Walt Whitman is.
Most Recent Customer Reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars
The bard sings from the grave
From the American poet who invented free verse - rich imagery that is often visceral, which might explain why it offended some prudes in his day.
Published 11 days ago by jeanine gavagan
5.0 out of 5 stars
Review of Leaves of Grass
Wonderful and enjoyable for both lovers of poetry and American history, Whitman's Leaves of Grass is strikingly honest and musical, an important step in the development of American... Read more
Published 16 days ago by Kyle
4.0 out of 5 stars
The best compilation of poetry I have read so far
There are a great deal of fascinating life expressions in this compilation. A great deal of memorable lines as well. What a deliciously unique flow.
Published 19 days ago by Mayfields
5.0 out of 5 stars
Good book, prompt delivery by Amazon
This book is a classic and that alone should be enough to warrant to others that it is a book worth reading. Read more
Published 21 days ago by J. Rinehart
1.0 out of 5 stars
Complicated to read and understand.
The book was not the type of poetry I was exepcting. I found it dificult to understand, and I should not have.
Published 24 days ago by Kathleen Carve
2.0 out of 5 stars
How did this become a classic
Life is too short to read bad books. I really don't know how this became a classic. I do not recommend it.
Published 1 month ago by Mark R. Orr
5.0 out of 5 stars
New to Whitman
I read Leaves of Grass in junior high school without the benefit of practice in reading 19th century literature. Read more
Published 1 month ago by C. Mclemore
3.0 out of 5 stars
book
Inside pages of book were clean, but cover and edges of book were dirty and the frontispiece was torn out.
Published 1 month ago by E. Bollman
1.0 out of 5 stars
not a good addition
Not a good copy.....format.......and all......you want the 1860 addition. Whitman constantly changed poem and all best addition for sooooooooo......big fan
Published 1 month ago by Eric
3.0 out of 5 stars
Hit or Miss
I gave this book 3 stars because it seemed half the poems were 5 star, and the other half were one star. Read more
Published 2 months ago by Bonnie
