Leaves of grass book 1940 walt whitman poetry w actress jane withers bookplate. Leaves of grass kobo ebook tattered cover book store. For the one i love most lay sleeping by me under the same cover in. Ralph waldo emerson, whose essay the poet inspired the work, praised it, saying i find it the most extraordinary piece of wit and wisdom america has yet contributed. It is also the title of the last book of poems published by whitman before his death in 1892, and of five. This book is notable for its discussion of delight in sensual pleasures during a time when such candid displays were considered immoral. When the book was first published, whitman sent a copy to emerson, whose praiseful letter of response helped launch the book to success. Whitman was inspired to begin leaves of grass after reading an essay by ralph waldo emerson which expressed a need for a uniquely american poet.
This resulted in vastly different editions over four decadesthe first a small book of twelve poems and the last a compilation of over 400. Make offer leaves of grass book 1940 walt whitman poetry w. Previous part 1 next part 3 a gigantic beauty of a stallion, fresh and responsive to my caresses, head high in the forehead, wide between the. Leaves of grass by walt whitman full text free book. An important work in american poetry, the poems of leaves of grass. Although the first edition was published in 1855, whitman spent most of his professional life writing and rewriting leaves of grass, revising it multiple times until his death. The cover of the first edition of leaves of grass iowa research. Poems by walt whitman and millions of other books are available for instant access. Leaves of grass is the title of the first book of poems published by walt whitman in 1855. Not the individual dew gathered newborn grass that makes our skin itch and rash after too much of its touch, but the religious and spiritual leaves of grass that walt whitman delivers in his farewell collection of poems. The most extraordinary piece of wit and wisdom that america has yet contributed. I highly recommend leaves of grass to everyone especially those who still believe, or want to believe, in the basic goodness of the american experiment. We have also included the socalled deathbed edition of 189192.
It says leaves of grass on the cover, but it is actually song of myself and other poems. I was given the book on my thirteenth birthday by my grandmother whom had it given to her by her mother. A timeless collection of hundreds of poems that resonate to the american spirit. I ts not the most expensive book ever auctioned, of. Walt whitmans leaves of grass 150th anniversary edition. Leaves of grass is whitmans masterpiece, written in a pure, uninhibited style and combining sensual and mystical sensibilities. Leaves of grass 1855 page images the walt whitman archive. Due to the specialized printing process, we cant accept returns or exchanges for posters larger than 24x36. I find it leaves of grass the most extraordinary piece of wit and wisdom that america has yet contributed i greet you at the beginning of a great career. The links below are to the six american editions of leaves of grass published in whitmans lifetime. By some fortunate conversion of mysticism, talent, and singular vision of humanity, in 1855, walt whitman published his first edition of leaves of grass, a slim volume consisting of twelve untitled poems and a preface.
Green cloth, title and butterfly design on backstrip, a blindstamped symbolical ornament with leaves of grass on cover. To this day, the works legacy remains strong, and is one of the most important collections of american poetry. Leaves of grass is a poetry collection by the american poet walt whitman 1819 1892. Leaves of grass, 18551861 timeline articles and essays. Leaves of grass bantam classics by walt whitman and a great selection of related books, art and collectibles available now at. In 1855, walt whitman published at his own expense the first edition of leaves of grass, a visionary volume of twelve poems. Ralph waldo emerson, whose essay the poet inspired the work, praised it, saying i find it the most extraordinary piece. The essays weave a rich tapestry of the most current, innovative criticism on this foundational book of american poetry.
This is a copy of the first selfpublished copy of leaves of grass, published on july 4, 1855 in brooklyn, ny. Leaves of grass 1855 is a poetry collection by the american poet walt whitman. Leaves of grass compact by walt whitman fill these leaves of paper with your deepest thoughts on the nature of humanity. Leaves of grass and millions of other books are available for instant access. High resolution leaves of grass walt whitman vintage book. His leaves of grass, from which when i heard the learnd astronomer comes, is considered one of the central volumes in the history of world poetry. Pages can include considerable notesin pen or highlighterbut the notes cannot obscure the text. Buy leaves of grass signet classics book online at low. Nov 29, 2014 leaves of grass is a poetry collection by the american poet walt whitman 18191892. Leaves from you i glean, i write, to be perused best afterwards, tombleaves, bodyleaves growing up above me above death. Unusually prescient, even now, leaves of grass has become an unavoidable influence on american poetry.
A guide to walt whitmans leaves of grass academy of american. This book is notable for its discussion of deligh millions of unique designs by independent artists. He designed the cover, and typeset and paid for the printing of the book himself. The publication of leaves of grass in july 1855 was a landmark event in literary history. Leaves of grass even became banned in various locations, which only led to increased sales, with some printings even selling out on the first day. Whitman did not have all copies of leaves of grass bound when the book was printed in july of 1855 because of expense. Leaves from you i glean, i write, to be perused best afterwards.
This resulted in vastly different editions over four decadesthe first, a small book of twelve poems and the last, a compilation. The poems of leaves of grass are loosely connected and each represents auhtors celebration of his philosophy of life and humanity. The first edition of leaves of grass was a failure with the public, but upon receiving a copy, emerson responded with his famous letter. Leaves of grass first edition walt whitman bauman rare. The contributors treat whitmans poetry, his biography, his politics, his reception in the united states and abroad, race and ethnic issues, nineteenthcentury america, and even the complex typographical history of the first edition of leaves of grass. Buy high resolution leaves of grass walt whitman vintage book cover by buythebook86 as a tshirt, classic tshirt, triblend tshirt, lightweight. See more ideas about leaves of grass, book cover design and cover. Jan 19, 2012 whitman did not have all copies of leaves of grass bound when the book was printed in july of 1855 because of expense. As the volume changed, so did the pictures that whitman used to illustrate themthe last edition depicts an older whitman with a full beard and jacket. Walt whitmans leaves of grass edition 150 by walt whitman. Leaves of grassbook v wikisource, the free online library. The final product, which is what is most often seen on bookshelves, is a bloated, redundant. Free kindle book and epub digitized and proofread by project gutenberg. We want to make sure that you love your litograph as much as we do.
Whitman leaves of grass large book cover poster, literary gift, classic literature, minimalist poster, bookworm, instant download this poster is inspired by walt whitmans famous book leaves of grass, first published in 1855. One deciduous tree can provide enough leaves to cover one of your flowerbeds. I find it leaves of grass the most extraordinary piece of wit and wisdom that america has yet contributed i. Showing the influence of a uniquely american form of mysticism known as transcendentalism, which eschewed the general society and culture of the time, the writing is distinguished by an explosively innovative free verse style and previously. Among some of the best known poems contained in this work are o captain. Leaves can protect flowerbeds tender bulbs and roots from winters temperature variations, or. Ralph waldo emerson judged the book the most extraordinary piece of wit and wisdom america has yet contributed. Brooklyn, new york library locations rare book division shelf locator. Leaves of grass and selected poems and prose by walt.
Judging the 1855 leaves of grass by its covers the. Leaves of grass is a collection of poems that walt whitman first published in 1855 and revised and expanded over the rest of. Leaves of grass book by walt whitman official publisher. Though the first edition was published in 1855, whitman spent his entire life writing and rewriting leaves of grass, revising it in several editions until his death. Leaves of grass by walt whitman and a great selection of related books, art and collectibles available now at. While most other major writers of his time enjoyed a highly structured, classical education at private institutions, whitman forged his own rough and informal curriculum, and his brief stint at. I find the cover of the book very elegant and wanted to enjoy it as much as the content itself you can get leaves of grass for free on kindle, therefore the cover is. Leaves of grass book by walt whitman, ken mondschein. Among the poems in the collection are song of myself, i sing the body electric, out of the cradle endlessly rocking, and in later editions, whitmans elegy to the assassinated president abraham lincoln, when lilacs last in the dooryard bloomd. For the one i love most lay sleeping by me under the same cover in the cool night, in the stillness in the autumn moonbeams his face was inclined toward me. When the book was first published, whitman sent a copy to emerson, whose praiseful letter of. Exhaustively collecting everything whitman ever put a pen to, this is the ultimate whitman class in a cover, including plenty of unpublished poems and which i find most interesting lines scribbled in notebooks that never went anywhere. Technically speaking, this is not a distinct edition but is a reprinting of the 188182 edition with annexes. The authors name did not appear on the cover, although it does appear in the poem on page 31 in this edition.
Leaves of grass is a timeless collection of poems and essays penned by influential nineteenthcentury writer walt whitman. This resulted in vastly different editions over four decadesthe first a small book of twelve poems and the last a compilation of over 400 poems. Leaves of grass first edition walt whitman bauman rare books. A guide to walt whitmans leaves of grass academy of. Pick up the slim first edition whitman revised and expanded leaves of grass throughout his life. Buy leaves of grass signet classics book online at best prices in india on. Leaves of grass and selected poems and prose by walt whitman. A timeline from walt whitmans publication of the first edition of his masterpiece leaves of grass in july 1855 through two subsequent editions and his first sighting of abraham lincoln as the presidentelect passed through new york on his way to his march 1861 inauguration in washington, shortly before the start of the american civil war. This profound compilation explores topics such as nature, mysticism, mortality, transcendentalism, and democracy. Leaves of grass, walt whitman, book cover illustration. Walt whitman wishes respectfully to notify the public that the book leaves of.
Judging the 1855 leaves of grass by its covers the chapel. About leaves of grass and selected poems and prose. Leaves of grass by walt whitman free ebook project gutenberg. Buy a cheap copy of leaves of grass book by walt whitman. In 1855, whitman published his first edition of leaves of grass, a slim volume consisting of twelve untitled poems and a preface. Leaves of grass american experience official site pbs. Leaves of grass is a collection of poems that walt whitman first published in 1855 and revised and expanded over the rest of his life. Whitman leaves of grass large book cover poster etsy. At litographs, we have a no questions asked returns and exchanges policy on all of our tshirts, totes, scarves, tattoos and standard sized posters. Existing records show that the 1855 edition was bound on no less than four occasions and by at least two binders.