Walter Whitman, poète et essayiste américain, est devenu une figure centrale de la littérature américaine. Son œuvre, qui oscille entre transcendantalisme et réalisme, offre une célébration humaniste de l'humanité en vers libres expansifs, lui valant le titre de « père du vers libre ». Les expériences de Whitman en tant que journaliste, commis et infirmier pendant la guerre de Sécession ont profondément marqué son écriture, que les poètes pionniers ont louée pour sa voix unique et puissante. Son chef-d'œuvre est célébré comme un hymne à l'humanité, et son influence continue de résonner.
This exploration delves into Whitman's journey of self-discovery, highlighting his profound and mystical connection with the world around him. The narrative reveals how his experiences shaped his identity and artistic expression, offering a deep understanding of his philosophical and poetic evolution.
"Whitman's uniquely revealing impressions of the people, places, and events of his time. One of the most creative and individual poets America has produced, Walt Whitman was also a prolific diarist, note-taker, and essayist whose intimate observations and reflections have profoundly deepened understanding of nineteenth-century American life. Specimen Days and Collect, first published in 1882, is a choice collection of Whitman's uniquely revealing impressions of the people, places, and events of his time, principally the era of the Civil War and its aftermath. On page after page, a vast panorama of American life unfolds, and with it rare glimpse of Whitman as poet, empathetic observer, and romantic wanderer. From his years as a wartime nurse in Washington, D.C., come touching glimpses of the dead and dying in military hospitals, memories of Abraham Lincoln, and vivid impressions of the nation's capital in a time of great crisis. Whitman's travel yields memorable recollections of Boston, the Hudson Valley, a walk through Central Park, Niagara Falls, the City of Denver, and more. Along with the famed essay "Democratic Vistas," there are scenes from the poet's childhood, touching tributes to songbirds, wildflowers, friendship and freedom; impressions of the music of Beethoven, reflections on a last visit to Emerson, the deaths of Lincoln and Longfellow and the painful process of aging. Deeply felt and vividly expressed, Specimen Days and Collect is a richly rewarding experience, a rare excursion into the mind and heard of one of America's greatest poets--and the America his poetry so richly commemorated"-- Provided by publisher
When Walt Whitman self-published Leaves of Grass in 1855 it was a slim volume of twelve poems and he was a journalist and poet from Long Island, little-known but full of ambition and poetic fire. To give a new voice to the new nation shaken by civil war, he spent his entire life revising and adding to the work, but his initial act of bravado in answering Ralph Waldo Emerson's call for a national poet has made Whitman the quintessential American writer. This rich cross-section of his work includes poems from throughout Whitman's lifetime as published on his deathbed edition of 1891 and other works.
As he was turning forty, Walt Whitman wrote twelve poems in a small handmade book he entitled "Live Oak, With Moss." The poems were intensely private reflections on his attraction to and affection for other men. They were also Whitman's most adventurous explorations of the theme of same-sex love, composed decades before the word "homosexual" came into use. This revolutionary, extraordinarily beautiful and passionate cluster of poems was never published by Whitman and has remained unknown to the general public--until now. New York Times bestselling and Caldecott Award-winning illustrator Brian Selznick offers a provocative visual narrative of "Live Oak, With Moss," and Whitman scholar Karen Karbiener reconstructs the story of the poetic cluster's creation and destruction. Walt Whitman's reassembled, reinterpreted Live Oak, With Moss serves as a source of inspiration and a cause for celebration.
Celebrating the legacy of America's greatest poet, this edition features over two hundred poems by Whitman, presented in their original form and chronological order. Biographer Gary Schmidgall includes facsimiles of Whitman's manuscripts and contemporary reviews, showcasing the mixed reception of his work. The collection also highlights early poems that reflect Whitman's physicality and embrace of homoerotic love, offering a deeper understanding of his artistic journey and the societal context of his time.
This antiquarian book is a facsimile reprint of an original work, preserving its historical significance despite potential imperfections like marks and notations. It aims to protect and promote literary heritage by providing an accessible, high-quality edition that remains true to the original text.
“I am large, I contain multitudes” A Penguin Classic When Walt Whitman self-published his Leaves of Grass in July 1855, he altered the course of literary history. One of the greatest masterpieces of American literature, it redefined the rules of poetry while describing the soul of the American character. Throughout his great career, Whitman continuously revised, expanded, and republished Leaves of Grass, but many critics believe that the book that matters most is the 1855 original. Penguin Classics proudly presents that text in its original and complete form, with an introductory essay by the writer and poet Malcolm Cowley. “I celebrate myself, and sing myself, And what I assume you shall assume, For every atom belonging to me as good belongs to you.” For more than seventy years, Penguin has been the leading publisher of classic literature in the English-speaking world. With more than 1,700 titles, Penguin Classics represents a global bookshelf of the best works throughout history and across genres and disciplines. Readers trust the series to provide authoritative texts enhanced by introductions and notes by distinguished scholars and contemporary authors, as well as up-to-date translations by award-winning translators.
This book is the first to offer a comprehensive selection of Walt Whitman’s Civil War poetry and prose with a full commentary on each work. Ed Folsom and Christopher Merrill carry on a dialogue with Whitman (and with each other) as they invite readers to trace how Whitman’s writing about the Civil War develops, shifts, and manifests itself in different genres throughout the years of the war. The book offers forty selections of Whitman’s war writings, including not only the well-known war poems but also his prose and personal letters. Each are followed by Folsom’s critical examination and then by Merrill’s afterword, suggesting broader contexts for thinking about the selection. The real democratic reader, Whitman said, “must himself or herself construct indeed the poem, argument, history, metaphysical essay—the text furnishing the hints, the clue, the start or frame-work,” because what is needed for democracy to flourish is “a nation of supple and athletic minds.” Folsom and Merrill model this kind of active reading and encourage both seasoned and new readers of Whitman’s war writings to enter into the challenging and exhilarating mode of talking back to Whitman, arguing with him, and learning from him.
Originally published in 1876, this reprint offers a glimpse into the historical context and themes of the time. The book features rich storytelling that reflects the societal norms and challenges of its era, providing readers with a unique perspective on the past. Its enduring relevance is showcased through its characters and narrative, making it a valuable addition to any literary collection.
The collection features unpublished writings by Walt Whitman, meticulously edited and published posthumously by Richard Maurice Bucke. It includes first drafts, rejected lines, and notes that provide insight into the poet's creative process leading to "Leaves of Grass." Readers will find verse fragments and memoranda reflecting Whitman's literary influences and thoughts. This volume is essential for Whitman enthusiasts and offers a valuable glimpse into his artistic journey, complemented by a new biography of the author.