Whitman is today regarded as America's Homer or Dante, and his work the touchstone for literary originality in the New World. In Leaves of Grass, he abandoned the rules of traditional poetry - breaking the standard metred line, discarding the obligatory rhyming scheme, and using the vernacular. Emily Dickinson condemned his sexual and physiological allusions as `disgraceful', but Emerson saw the book as the `most extraordinary piece of wit and wisdom that America has yet contributed'. A century later it is his judgement of this autobiographical vision of the vigour of the American nation that has proved the more enduring. This is the most up-to-date edition for student use, with full critical apparatus.
LEAVES of GRASS, 1855 First Edition Text
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"Its convenience is outstanding and can easily fit into a coat pocket. Yet the print is civilized and the accompanying editorial and biographical material, first-rate. I plan to use it and to recommentd it."--David Baldwin, Hartwick College
"Introduction in a valuable critical contribution."--Cameron Nickels, James Madison University
"I have used several of the Oxford World's Classics in my courses, and I like them very much. They are well edited, but equally important, they are pleasant books to hold and read, more so than Penguin and Signet. When I have a choice, I go for the Oxford World's Classics."--Kelley Griffith, University of North Carolina
"Very nice reprint. The introduction is well written and informative."--Jeff Cupp, Troy State University
--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
About the Author
Walt Whitman was is perhaps the most important poet in American history. He remains a poetic visionary with unrivaled insight into the human condition. The Complete 1891-92 Edition is his final collection of his life's work and it will forever remain one of the most important books ever written. J. M. Beach is a lecturer at the University of Texas, San Antonio. He has advanced degrees in English, History, Philosophy, and Education. He has been a teacher and educational administrator for over fifteen years. Beach has taught many subjects in the Humanities to a broad range of students, from pre-school all the way to university, in public and private schools, in the U.S., South Korea, and China. Previously Beach was a Lecturer at Oregon State University, the University of California, and at several community colleges in Southern California and Central Texas. Beach's scholarly research focuses on several distinct, but interrelated subjects: The philosophy of knowledge, the science of culture and social institutions, the history and philosophy of education, and literature. Beach is also a published poet. Links to his books, articles, and conference papers can be found at his website at www.jmbeach.com. Follow his blogs at jmbeach.blogspot.com and 21stcenturycanon.blogspot.com
--This text refers to an alternate
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59 of 62 people found the following review helpful
By A Customer
Format:Paperback
This edition is very different to the later _Leaves of Grass_. Whitman was one of those poets who go on expanding their book of poems throughout their life. (Rather like Baudelaire with his _Flowers of Evil_.) Some people consider the earlier edition superior to the later: certainly it seems more radical, with unhierarchical punctuation (frequent use of . . . .), no titles for the poems, no numbering of sections (Cowley inserts titles and numbering in brackers for ease of reference), and, as the book came to its first readers, no author's name, only an engraving (reproduced in this book) of Whitman in an open shirt and jaunitly cocked hat!
What can anyone have thought opening this unattributed book and turning to the first poem, the 60 pages of what later was called 'Song of Myself''? This immense, fantastic, multi-facated, boastful, ambitious, tender work seems to me a work of art that really justifies the often misused work "original". It's amazing to think that while England had Tennyson, America had
Walt Whitman, an America, one of the roughs, a kosmos,
Disorderly fleshy and sensual . . . . eating drinking and breeding,
No sentimentalist . . . . no stander above men and women or apart from them . . . . no more modest than immodest.
Whitman then shouts:
Unscrew the locks from the doors!
Unscrew the doors themselves from their jambs!
Whitman represents America at what seems to me its best -- bold, immense, pioneering, multiracial, unsnobbish and unashamed to feel. The first edition is perhaps the best place to meet his poetry, as it isn't diluted by many of the later poems, some of which are very short -- more like epigrams (one-sided) than the many-sided long poems here.
... Read more ›14 of 15 people found the following review helpful
By Paumanok
Format:Paperback
This is poetry at it's very best, it is truly a life-changing experience. Leaves of grass is a book to treasure for a lifetime, a feast for the heart and mind every time you open it. Whitman's soul is in direct communion with yours as he weaves a tapestry of wonder and joy on every page. His words burn deep and enter into the very fibre of your being and I guarantee that once you are touched by walt's magic you will never be the same...
4 of 4 people found the following review helpful
Format:Kindle Edition|Amazon Verified Purchase
Written in the epic style reminiscent of Homer and Vergil, these modern (19th Century) poems hark back to the traditional Classical world but choosing subjects appropriate to their time of writing. This confluence of Ancient and Modern clearly demonstrates that the Classical world is still alive around us. Reading the poems is like listening to classical music, they are lyrical, literate and a joy to read.
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
By Arwen
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
Walt Whitman's poetry is feisty in content, thoughtful and perceptive. He did not shy away from topics which were not usually discussed at the time of writing, nor from relating them to his own experience. His style broke many expected and accepted rules of the era, but is as relevant and open today and reveals the man as well as the poet.
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
By Nick
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
Blew me away. I hadn't realised Whitman was a transcendentalist a la Thoreau and Emerson and loved discovering the seeds of the Beat generation in his often sublime poetry. Highly recommended.
Format:Kindle Edition|Amazon Verified Purchase
I love Walt Whitman. waht a wonderful poet and great to be able to get it electronically too. Even better since it cost nothing!
By Val
Format:Kindle Edition|Amazon Verified Purchase
The publication is good but perhaps not my favourite poet, through no fault of his own. If you are American it will probably appeal to you more.
5 of 7 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
Thanks for this edition of leaves of grass it's a good way of bought books and to introduce and know a new culture. I'm a Spaniard and here it's more difficult to found books a good price like this you can buy in Amazon.
Thanks To Dover Thrift Editions cause I received the book more or less around a week in good conditions and as I told you a good price!
Hope to deal more with you!
Yours,
Juan Carlos Martín
Plasencia (Extremadura)
Spain
Thanks To Dover Thrift Editions cause I received the book more or less around a week in good conditions and as I told you a good price!
Hope to deal more with you!
Yours,
Juan Carlos Martín
Plasencia (Extremadura)
Spain
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