Product Description
When Walt Whitman blasted onto the literary scene in the mid-19th century, he offered a fresh dose of potent prose that was original in form and structure, and above all, utterly American. The self-educated printer, journalist, editor, and publisher wrote about common things and ordinary people--bus drivers and ferrymen, river crossings and taverns--subjects that defined the American experience. In this recording, Burt Reynolds--who is fast becoming a fixture on the audiobook narrator scene--joins Bill Pullman, D.B. Sweeney, Joan Allen, and others to celebrate this first great all-American poet. Poems include "One's Self I Sing," selections from "When Lilacs Last in the Dooryard Bloom'd" and "I Sing the Body Electric," and a generous sampling from "Song of Myself." Listen to Reynolds read Whitman's "Oh Captain! My Captain!." For more information, visit our audio help page. (Running time: 1.5 hours, 1 cassettes) --Rob McDonald
From AudioFile
This program offers a lecture-like introduction to the life and work of Walt Whitman. Although reference is made to a number of his poems, the only poems read are "When Lilacs Last in the Dooryard Bloom'd," "Passage to India" and a portion of "Song of Myself." Emmy Award winner Peter Strauss presents the facts and opinions about the poet and his work with the pace of a good storyteller, and he brings passion and heart to the poems, particularly the somber "Lilacs." The enclosed booklet is helpful, offering a glossary of terms; a synopsis of the poems read; and references to books, music, and films related to Whitman. Occasional symphonic music by Ives and Prokofiev is a nice touch but unnecessary. P.B.J. (c)AudioFile, Portland, Maine
