This Library of America edition is the most comprehensive volume of the work of Walt Whitman (1819-1892) ever published. It includes all of his poe...
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Oct 20, 2010
Bruce
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In addition to all of Whitman’s prose, this volume contains two editions of “Leaves of Grass.” I read the 1855 edition before reading the final 1891-92 edition. It began with a prose preface that was moderately interesting, although I liked the poetry better. Whitman revels in particularity, encyclopedically. His verse is not best appreciated by rushing through it (as we were often prone to do when reading it for a course in high school or college), but it rather needs to be read slowly and
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Feb 11, 2008
Steph
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This work has a lot more of Whitman than one is traditionally exposed to in high school. There are poems about masturbation, about homosexuality, about sexuality. There are also early works celebrating New York, the everyman, and of course Lincoln. Informative essays in the back of the work flesh out the historical background.
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Sep 12, 2007
Helene
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What makes this edition of Library of America Editions valuable is that they have reprinted the original versions in the front and the reworked and expanded versions which is about 2/3 of the anthology. I hadn't realised that Whitman had revised as much as he did.
A must own.
A must own.
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Aug 02, 2009
Patrick
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It is the only edition you will ever need. Keep it near at all times.
O me! O life . . . of the questions of these recurring;
Of the endless trains of the faithless—of cities fill’d with the foolish;
Of myself forever reproaching myself, (for who more foolish than I, and who more faithless?)
Of eyes that vainly crave the light—of the objects mean—of the struggle ever renew’d;
Of the poor results of all—of the plodding and sordid crowds I see around me;
O More...
O me! O life . . . of the questions of these recurring;
Of the endless trains of the faithless—of cities fill’d with the foolish;
Of myself forever reproaching myself, (for who more foolish than I, and who more faithless?)
Of eyes that vainly crave the light—of the objects mean—of the struggle ever renew’d;
Of the poor results of all—of the plodding and sordid crowds I see around me;
O More...
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Aug 20, 2011
Jack
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I don't do a lot of poetry, but it was a curious little excursion outside my usual fare. Whitman's is an interesting voice: at times inspiring, at others tiresome. If you're like me and pretty much never read any poetry, I might suggest reading it short spurts but with another book ever at the ready. It wasn't until page 300 or so that I really found myself caught up the way I would be by page 25 of a good novel. But don't let that stop you from taking a peek at such an outstanding work. It'
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Jun 12, 2008
Desiree
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There are absolutely not enough words with enough quantitative meaning between humans to express how much I ADORE WALT WHITMAN!
I was so lucky to be able to take a graduate level English course dedicated exclusively to his poetry.
To sing ourselves and celebrate ourselves, my ultimate goal in life would be to live as cosmosexually as he could write.
Not a perfect man, nor a perfect poet, but an admirable artist whose poems are a comfort and a revelation every tim More...
I was so lucky to be able to take a graduate level English course dedicated exclusively to his poetry.
To sing ourselves and celebrate ourselves, my ultimate goal in life would be to live as cosmosexually as he could write.
Not a perfect man, nor a perfect poet, but an admirable artist whose poems are a comfort and a revelation every tim More...
Dec 29, 2010
John
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an absolutely excellent edition. altho the prose selections are more sparse than i would like, some gesture toward portability had to be made.
Sep 18, 2009
Ian
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I cherish this book. If I had to choose only one book to read for the rest of life, this might be the one I would choose.
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Mar 26, 2010
Oh Captain my Captain is unforgettable. I need to read the rest of his.
Sep 21, 2007
Alex
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I own the LOA hardcover edition of this; I'm sure the paperback is identical, or close enough to it. Ideal for the reader who's new to the universe of perception and beauty that is Whitman. Look at all the 5-star ratings given here! That should tell you something. Lie down in "Leaves of Grass" -- you'll never be the same. A book for everyone alive, for all time.
Feb 28, 2010
Gary
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I also have a 1931 edition of Leaves of Grass that's pretty bitchin'. That's where I read it for the first time. Still need to go through this collection and reread though.
8/18/08: Reading Specimen Days now. It's great.
02/28/10: And my 2-month immersion into Whitman, Dickinson, Emerson, Melville, etc begins tomorrow. Bon voyage!
8/18/08: Reading Specimen Days now. It's great.
02/28/10: And my 2-month immersion into Whitman, Dickinson, Emerson, Melville, etc begins tomorrow. Bon voyage!
Mar 11, 2009
The best Whitman book to own, and a good collection of his best works - which is just about everything he wrote.
Oct 01, 2008
Joy
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Right now he is my favorite poet. Just an all American man who really lived his life to the fullest and helped many people along the way. Love all of his work. His poetry really makes you feel the way he felt when he wrote it. He had a love of nature (esp. birds) like no other.
Apr 02, 2008
Melissa
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I don't love Whitman, but I did find more of him to like this time around--mostly the things that come after "Song of Myself." Good job on the singing and celebrating, though, WW.
Mar 24, 2008
Mary Katherine
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Whitman captured me from the first line "I celebrate myself." Whitman's ability to unite with nature and the people around him brought me to a unification of my own.
Dec 16, 2009
Ernie
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While I can't claim to have read all of it, Leaves of Grass is great. Whitman's prose works are also quite good, particularly "Democratic Vistas."
Sep 02, 2008
Lucianna
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I can see why Nicholas Sparks uses Whitman as his inspiration. His poems are music for the eyes, especially the female eyes.
May 12, 2011
Pauline
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Wonderful piece of writing - so happy to have had the experience of taking an entire course on Whitman.
Feb 12, 2012
Feb 12, 2012
