Recently there have come to light several unpublished manuscripts by Walt Whitman which clarify the purpose, growth, and gradual unfoldment of Leaves of Grass, and possess at the same time sufficient literary distinction in their own right to warrant consideration as independent pieces of writing. This material covers a wide range of subject matter. The various manuscripts of prefaces for American editions of Whitman's poems, which were lost during Whitman's lifetime before they reached print and were rediscovered only after his death, have a fascinating history, and possess marked significance for the student and collector, as well as the casual reader of Whitman. In addition to these American prefaces, a selection of other significant Whitman manuscripts, dropped or withheld for various reasons during his lifetime, here appears for the first time. This material has been collected from scattered sources and has shaped itself into a single volume, the primary purpose of which is to contribute a composite picture of Walt Whitman, the literary workman. - Introduction.

Recently there have come to light several unpublished manuscripts by Walt Whitman which clarify the purpose, growth, and gradual unfoldment of Leaves of Grass, and possess at the same time sufficient literary distinction in their own right to warrant consideration as independent pieces of writing. This material covers a wide range of subject matter. The various manuscripts of prefaces for American editions of Whitman's poems, which were lost during Whitman's lifetime before they reached print and were rediscovered only after his death, have a fascinating history, and possess marked significance for the student and collector, as well as the casual reader of Whitman. In addition to these American prefaces, a selection of other significant Whitman manuscripts, dropped or withheld for various reasons during his lifetime, here appears for the first time. This material has been collected from scattered sources and has shaped itself into a single volume, the primary purpose of which is to contribute a composite picture of Walt Whitman, the literary workman. - Introduction.

Bonded Leather binding

Walt Whitman created, in various editions of Leaves of Grass, what is arguably the most influential book of poems anywhere in the past 200 years. Whitman absorbed the world, transmuting it into poems that address a spectrum of topics--from democracy and religion to sexuality, gender, class, and identity. He exuberantly incarnated his epoch at the same time as he invoked "you"-- readers and "poets to come"--to join in a "poetry of the future." The first A to Z Whitman reference to incorporate 21st century scholarship, this work is ideal for readers who want a concise introduction to the major poems and prose and to the people, places, and topics central to his life. Each of the book's 142 entries is followed by cross-references to related entries and suggestions for further reading. Also included are a brief biography, a chronology of Whitman's life and major works, and a bibliography of some 300 primary and secondary sources on this most timeless and contemporary of poets.

Includes almost 760 entries ranging in length from 3,100 words on the first (1855) edition of Leaves of Grass to 140 words on Elizabeth Leavitt Keller. Entries include biographical data; thematic, formal and technical considerations; discussions of the poet's social and personal life; and commentary on all of Whitman's works, including poem clusters, major poems, essays, and lesser known works such as the novel Franklin Evans and two dozen short stories. A chronology and genealogy are included. Annotation copyrighted by Book News, Inc., Portland, OR

Loving offers a sharp focus of the man who is generally considered America's greatest poet. This splendid work reveals him as fully as anything can, except his poems.

Walt Whitman's poem was first published in the 1856 collection Leaves of Grass.