Book Description
Available October 2003 Poets to Come! . . .
Not to-day is to justify me and answer what I am for,
But you, a new brood, native, athletic, continental, greater than before known,
Arouse! for you must justify me.
—Walt Whitman, “Poets to Come”

Consider him sensational, mystical, erotic, and expansive; consider him the good gray poet, the moral crusader, the prophet of Democracy and the enemy of social injustice; or consider him libertarian, unsavory, and controversial. However we may view Walt Whitman, there is no denying his genius. Has there ever been a poet—before or after—so central, so vital to the heartbeat and life of American, and world, poetry?

Answering the challenge that Whitman issued nearly a hundred and fifty years ago in “Poets to Come,”Sheila Coghill and Thom Tammaro have gathered one hundred poems by one hundred poets bearing witness to Whitman's great inheritance. Poets as diverse as Sherman Alexie, Sharon Olds, Langston Hughes, Anne Waldman, Pablo Neruda, and Erica Jong fill the pages of Visiting Walt: Poems Inspired by the Life and Work of Walt Whitman and, in true Whitman tradition, form a democratic chorus of celebration and homage to the undeniable resonance of the poet's spirit.

Visiting Walt is a reminder and renewal, at the dawn of a new millennium, of the centrality of Whitman's influence on American and global literature. As Ed Folsom poignantly remarks in his foreword, “Here are a hundred poems that read Whitman's poems in a hundred different ways, that remake Whitman again and again, that answer what he is for.”

Contributors Include: Marvin Bell
Ted Berrigan
Jorge Louis Borges
Gillian Conoley
Toi Derricotte
Mark Doty
Martn Espada
Suzanne Gardinier
Allen Ginsberg
Erica Jong
Pablo Neruda
Sharon Olds
Diane Wakoski
and many more ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Not the best editing of Whitman's Journals
Walt Whitman wrote many journals, letters and diaries during his years volunteering at the hospitals in Washington DC.There are many books out there which claim to combine all those elements into one book.This book does an OK job of combining everything.The editor organizes the book by Month, which makes referencing easy. However, the editor chose not to include the original date the piece was written.Whitman dated almost everything, but this editor took those out in favor or numbering in passage in sequence.If you want to know WHEN a passage was written, you will need to find it in another book.In addition, the editor removed the context for each piece.For example, some passages are letters to his mother or an article for the newspapers in New York.Because this information is removed, and because each passage has text removed in order to make each passage short, this book lacks some of the important detials needed to see the big picture of Whitman's life.I am currently studying Whitman during the Civil War, and although I have used this book as reference, I have needed to go to other books to find out when and where each passage was written.This is a good starting point for someone who wants to quickly glance at Whitman's experiences, but I would also recommend Walt Whitman's Civil War, edited by Lowenfals and The Better Angel, by Roy Morris Jr. ... Read more

Book Description

Customer Reviews (4)

An exceptional edition of Walt Whitman's Leaves of Grass and related writings
What are characteristics of Leaves of Grass that are uncommon in literary masterworks?It was originally published anonymously.It was originally self-published.Whitman paid to have it printed & bound.While most books are published and never significantly revised, "L of G" was a lifelong work in progress, revised repeatedly, changing as the author changed.There are many "Leaves of Grass" publications for sale.I recommend this version for the following reasons:

a)The poems are presented in groupings, showing the development of the poetry collection over Whitman's lifetime, from the brief 1855 first edition, through the many different editions, up to the expansive 1991-92 edition.This edition focuses on the first version of each poem before Whitman's later versions "toned down" some of his verse.
b)In addition to introductory comments, this edition includes the various prefaces, unpublished introductions, & "A Backward Glance O'er Travel'd Roads" from the original "L of G" publications.
c)It includes Ralph Waldo Emerson's famous congratulatory letter and Whitmans' reply letter.
d)It includes contemporary reviews (including those written by Whitman himself) from 1855 to 1891
e)It includes a historical timeline of Whitman's life.
f)It is a large page format, easy to read, splay out, underline, and write in the margins.
g)It includes one version of many of the Leaves of Grass poems.If this version also included many of the revisions, showing the edits of the poems, I would like this version even more (look at Bartleby's online for more information about the various versions of each poem).

Leaves of Grass is "too much" for many people.It can be critiqued as hyperbole and excess.To suggest it is not in praise of overt sexuality would be like suggesting to mothers that babies still come from storks.To suggest it is not about homosexuality and bisexuality would be like suggesting 101 Dalmations isn't about puppies.In fact, when I think of Whitman, the word "too" is the most common word that comes to mind.He is too ____ (fill in the blank).

What inspired this man to create this landmark American sexual and emotional statement?Many things.Paramount among those things was Loss.Loss of old loves: "Doubtless I could not have perceived the universe, or written one of my poems, if I had not freely given myself to comrades, to love." and "(I loved a certain person ardently, and my love was not return'd; Yet out of that, I have written these songs.)"Loss of Lincoln inspired "Drum-Taps" and "Sequel to Drum-Taps".Loss of youth, health, & pleasures inspired him to write.And I think he wrote for the 4 purposes George Orwell suggested writers write:Sheer egoism, aesthetic enthusiasm, historical impulse ("to see things as they are, to find out true facts and store them up for the use of posterity"), and political purpose.

Whether or not Whitman's perspectives are correct or good, he said things that most people have feared to say so strongly.His words have been criticized as base, vile, and shameful, but they are also free speech expression.I don't know if I can say I'm a big fan of Whitman, but I can say that I'm glad to live under laws that have allowed him to speak his inner mind.And I promote environments & protections that safeguard such expressions.

Following his beloved Abraham Lincoln's assassination, he mourned without reservation, "O Captain! my captain! rise up and hear the bells . . . For you they call, the swaying mass, their eager faces turning . . . My captain does not answer, his lips are pale and still;My father does not feel my arm, he has no pulse nor will."As "Dead Poets Society" so capably conveyed, "Leaves of Grass" is about passion - unabashed American passions.

The Leaves We've Always Wanted!
To date, I think I own about four different copies of Whitman's grand opus "Leaves of Grass". One is a deathbed edition, printed in 1922, that is hardcover yet pocket sized and great for a backpack. The second is an 1855 reprint of a "first edition" sold by a major bookstore chain. The third is another 1855 reprint in paperback. And now the fourth, which is this one, and without a doubt, the best of the bunch!

Walt Whitman, throughout his years, wrote and rewrote Leaves of Grass many times, for each subsequent reprint. Much of the later editions of the book become watered down and less potent, according to editor Gary Schmidgall, of which I heartily agree. The final "deathbed" edition of Leaves of Grass, released around the time of Whit's death, varies tremendously from the rich dance of the first edition, in fact, the first three editions.

After reading Schmidgall's amazing book, "Walt Whitman: A Gay Life", you come quickly appreciate Whitman's 1860 edition of the book, the third, released just before the Civil War. Upon searching for a copy of this book, it's virtually hard to find, and I ended up downloading some of the poetry off the Whitman archives website. But Schmidgall painstakingly has recreated that edition, rebuilding such moving sections of the book like Calamus.

It's in Schmidgall's edition that the true genius of Whitman comes alive. He becomes more real, more in depth, and shows more pain than in any other edition I've read. It's too bad that Whit decided to censor his writings as he aged, for he tends to weed out the roses with the dandelions. Schmidgall replants Whitman's glorious garden, and we, as readers, get to reap the visual brilliance of it all.

the original, un-self-censored Whitman
There was a time I didn't much care for Whitman's poetry -- what seemed to me its self-conscious pretentiousness was a turn-off. (Whitman himself acknowledged that his style was all-too readily parodied.) It was only when, 30 years ago, I heard Rip Torn read it, I began to acknowledge its power and originality. Nevertheless, I was still bothered by an overly self-aware, "straining for effect" quality -- until I found this collection.

Gary Schmidgall has done what should have been done a century ago. His collection, comprising half of Whitman's poems (about 80% of the total number of lines he wrote), restores them to their first versions in the correct chronological sequence.

We now hear Whitman speaking to us with his original animal vigor. Whitman himself admitted this: "...there was an immediateness to the 1855 edition, an incisive directness, that was perhaps not repeated in any section of poems subsequently added to the book: a hot, unqualifying temper, an insulting arrogance (to use a few strong words) that would not have been as natural to the periods that followed. We miss the ecstasy of statement in some of the after-work..."

More significantly, Whitman's subsequent emasculation and de-sexualizing -- to confuse and obscure the issue of his sexuality -- is removed. Whitman's originals are often more graphic, more-bluntly sexual. It's easier to see why most critics were offended. It's unfortunate Whitman's changes to "Leaves of Grass" made it less controversial. Perhaps the Schmidgall edition will encourage libraries that ban "Huckleberry Finn" to also ban "Leaves of Grass."

If you haven't read the original, 1855 edition of "Leaves of Grass" -- as well as Whitman's unsigned (and bluntly meretricious) reviews, and the contemporary reviews of academic critics -- you haven't read Whitman. I was especially moved by the last few pages of "Song of Myself," which I had never read.

Schmidgall includes a copious quantity of notes, excerpts, and reviews. The material from Whitman's notebooks make it clear he knew exactly what he was doing -- creating a new, original, wholly American poetry not modeled on Classic, European, or British forms -- and why. If America is the land of self-definition, Whitman was the first American poet to make that self-centeredness the focus of his works.

This edition is a must-own for anyone with the least interest in Whitman. Or dis-interest, for that matter. You might change your mind.

One of the best Whitman collections I have ever seen...
Why buy this when you can just go off and buy something like the "norton" edition or some other "complete works" ?Well, people who know a little about Whitman know that there were many versions of Leaves of Grass (as many as 8 or so) and that with each edition, Whitman was constantly revising and in many ways, neutering his own poetry.By his last "deathbed" edition, nearly all of the earlier controversial material had been obscured or even removed.These "authorized versions" fall short of displaying the true mastery of poetry that Whitman possessed

This is where this book stands above all other Whitman collections.This book fully restores many of his most creative and groundbreaking poetry *in their original forms.*It is like night and day.I was shocked all over again when I read the Calamus section as Whitman originally wrote it.With the veil of Whitman's later "moralization" removed, I saw for the first time the true soul of a genuine American poetic genius.This book gives us back what was once lost.

I might suggest that this book, not being a totally complete collection of his poetry, be the perfect companion to whatever edition you currently own.For other poets especially, this book will give you an incredible insight into one of the greatest (if not *the* greatest) American poets. ... Read more

Amazon.com
The greatest American poet is portrayed in this monumental biography as an essential American, not an isolated mystic but a man formed in large measure by his rapidly changing society.Drawing on his diligent research, and on his experience writing the monumental work Beneath the American Renaissance, noted scholar David S. Reynolds conclusively demonstrates the profound impact the popular culture of his day had on Whitman's awakening as an artist. This copious (nearly 700 page) volume tells the story of 19th-century America as well as the story of the Whitman himself.Book Description
In his poetry Walt Whitman set out to encompass all of America and in so doing heal its deepening divisions. This magisterial biography demonstrates the epic scale of his achievement, as well as the dreams and anxieties that impelled it, for it places the poet securely within the political and cultural context of his age.

Combing through the full range of Whitman's writing, David Reynolds shows how Whitman gathered inspiration from every stratum of nineteenth-century American life: the convulsions of slavery and depression; the raffish dandyism of the Bowery "b'hoys"; the exuberant rhetoric of actors, orators, and divines. We see how Whitman reconciled his own sexuality with contemporary social mores and how his energetic courtship of the public presaged the vogues of advertising and celebrity. Brilliantly researched, captivatingly told, Walt Whitman's America is a triumphant work of scholarship that breathes new life into the biographical genre. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (7)

A thorough bio that depicts a complicated man
Very thorough biography that refuses to give us a simple overall character of Whitman. Whitman was a complicated man, often living an ironically different life than the words he left behind. Reynolds discusses Whitman, his work, and his sexuality all within the context of the changing times of 19th century America - keeping in mind that Whitman lived through most of that century and watched as its values and interests changed around him (and he adapted as necessary). Reynolds's style is also very engaging and easy to follow.

Great Supplemental Text
As one who holds a degree in American Studies (M.A., Baylor), I've lamented the lack of good books on American culture.When I was teaching (see "My Calvin Seminary Story") a course related to American culture I searched far and wide for something very readable that gives the background of life as we know it today.These chapters explore every facet of American culture from religion and race to sexuality and slavery and social status.The arts, politics, and the idea of democracy are also featured.This book is not just for historians.It's for anyone interested in American culture and it would make a great supplemental text in courses on American history and culture--or for a course like the one I taught, The Gospel and American Culture.If nothing else, it is a great resource to have on your bookcase shelf.

Excellent Cultural Biography
Whitman was a difficult man and poet. Obviously, if it were not for the poetry, no one would think about him at all today, but oddly what makes this book so good is its long look at 19th century America through Whitman's life experience rather than his words. There are not many quotes from the poems and they're not really missed, in fact some of the best are not even mentioned. It's interesting to compare the life work of a poet and the age he lived in, especially someone like Walt Whitman, so sensitive and hopeful, at the same time living in the what is, for most of us, alternate universe of same sex attraction. Anyway, one's liking or disliking of Whitman does not affect one's enjoyment of this book, which is, as the title tells us, about America during Whitman's life. All of the major topics of the book: politics, homoeroticism, intellectual and religious movements, the growth of the cities, family life,have infinite possibilities and Reynolds does a good job of presenting an appetizing amount of information.He has a very balanced approach to topics quite liable to unbalance an author, I'm thinking especially of homosexuality and politics of the 1850s.And it was very interesting to know that censorship of Whitman was directed at the heterosexual images in the poems. One tends to forget how frigid society was in the Victorian age, how far it is from then to now and Howard Stern.

Reynolds also does a good job of describing Whitman's own ambitions and efforts at persona management. Poets are now so unpopular and so much in a realm of their own that we are surprised that the father of modern poetry hoped to be quoted frequently and by all types. It wasn't unreasonable: Longfellow was immensely popular and so was Whittier, but Whitman who, at least took up topics that still interest us, willfully insisted on a style that made his work very difficult to memorize. His one so to say singable verse, "Oh Captain" was popular and memorized. It was still included in old high school poetry textbooks when I was young - forty-five years ago - but I think has been now forgotten.And Reynolds depicts the aging Whitman trying to patch up and sustain a consistent public image. This too is interestingbecause this really did work. Whitman was the American image of a poet for quite a while. Nobody knows what Longfellow looked like, Poe certainly doesn't fit the part, and jumping to the 20th century, T. S. Eliot, though great, looks too constipated, in other words that avuncular Face easily confused with Santa meant uplifting and benevolent poetry to people who had never read and never would read a word of it.

All in all, highly recommended.

The best biography of Whitman available
I'm a latecomer to Whitman's work, only really discovering it in the past decade. (I'm in my 40s.) It was Reynold's book Beneath the American Renaissance that prodded me in this direction, and, naturally, I wanted to read his more complete take on Walt.

What stands out in this book is the way Reynolds weaves together not only Whitman's life but also the context of the period, which makes it so much easier to understand what Walt was saying. Reynolds is without doubt the best explainer of this period, as it applies to literature, and reading this book is both a pleasure and an enlightening experience, providing a history lesson at the same time as it looks at Whitman's writings.

A must-read book for any Whitman fan.

Whitman Poetry Lovers only
If you are a Whitman poetry lover (or aspire to be), this is an interesting book.The author explores the manifold influences on Whitman's writing, from Opera to Phrenology (and all the other letters of the alphabet), and uses snippets of poetry to prove his points.

I had not explored Whitman's "Leaves of Grass" before reading this book, and was looking for a portrait of Whitman and his times, not a compilation of "influences," A to Z.In short, I found it dull.The author's writing style doesn't help either, which is straightforward at best, pedantic at worst ("No other biographer has noted...").

If you love Whitman's poetry, by all means buy and read this book.However, if you are looking for a more straightforward biography or a picture of America in the age of Whitman, you might look elswhere.Please, tell me what you find! ... Read more

Book Description

Whitman's genius, passions, poetry, and androgynous sensibility entwined to create an exuberant life amid the turbulent American mid-nineteenth century. In vivid detail, Kaplan examines the mysterious selves of the enigmatic man who celebrated the freedom and dignity of the individual and sang the praises of democracy and the brotherhood of man.

Customer Reviews (2)

whitman revealed
There isn't much by way of analysis of the poems, but there is a trove of information about Whitman the poet andenigmatic man.

Walt Whitman's Life and Work Considered in the 21st Century.
When I was young, I was told that Walt Whitman was a marvelous poet.I read some
parts of Leaves of Grass but I was not impressed.Now, when I am old,I have
recently met a young poet who thinks highly of Whitman as the Father of
Modern American Poetry.Therefore, I decided to try him again.
I bought a copy of Leaves of Grass with an introduction by Justin Kaplan.
First I read Kaplan's introduction; then I read Leaves of Grass four times.
After the second reading, I finally 'got it'.Then I wanted to learn more
about Whitman so I sent for Kaplan's biography of Whitman.
I found this biography answered many questions I had about Whitman's life.
Kaplan's writing is very accessible and extremely informative.He cites
contemporary sources for facts about Whitman's life.I would recommend
this book highly to anyone who wants to know more about Walt Whitman.
(I just hope my review comes through cyberspace intact.This space keeps
cutting off the ends of words.) ... Read more

Book Description
Few authors are so well suited to historical study as Whitman, who is widely considered America's greatest poet.This Guide combines contemporary cultural studies and historical scholarship to illuminate Whitman's diverse contexts. The essays explore dimensions of Whitman's dynamic relationship to working-class politics, race and slavery, sexual mores, the visual arts, and the idea of democracy. The poet who emerges from this volume is no "solitary singer," distanced from his culture, but what he himself called "the age transfigured," fully enmeshed in his times and addressing issues that are still vital today. ... Read more

Book Description
Catherine Reef's fascinating, in-depth biography explores the life and character of one of America's greatest poets, incorporating highlights from his writings and photographs of the poet and the America he experienced. In "Leaves of Grass," first published in 1855, Whitman's innovative, free poetic style celebrated nineteenth-century America and himself as one of its citizens. His poems captured the spirit of a time when cities grew rapidly, pioneers and railroads crossed the Great Plains, and the Civil War nearly tore the nation apart. This book combines detailed historical information with Whitman's optimism, love for humanity, and pure joy in living. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

Inspiring!
This young adult biography of Walt Whitman was wonderful. The nature of young adult biographies allows reasonable depth into a topic without getting too theoretical or complicated. You get some neat facts and a relatively simple timeline. This biography chronicles Walt Whitman's entire life, outlining his relationship with each of his family members, his shaky job history, and his numerous revisions of Leaves of Grass, his poetic masterpiece. Walt Whitman showed the world it was okay to not use meter, rhyme or line breaks in his poems. He also showed his acceptance of all races and classes, abolishing slavery, and homosexuality in his poetry. Walt celebrated his love for all humans, all of humanity, for Abe Lincoln, and for the wounded soliders he nursed in the Civil War. This book is inspiring, and shows how Walt Whitman is an inspiration to all Americans.

Whitman
Ms. Reef is a superb writer who has captured the essence of what Whitman was about.Writing of this quality is not often found. ... Read more

Amazon.com
Walt Whitman's place in U.S. letters is unchallenged: he is the poet of America, democracy, and individual freedom. Yet Whitman and his work have been misrepresented by scholars and critics during the 20th century, and it is only recently that they have begun admitting the poet's homosexuality and examining its effect on his work. Gary Schmidgall's bold and well-researched Walt Whitman: A Gay Life presents abundant and irrefutable evidence of the poet's vibrant sexuality and details Whitman's sexual and romantic affairs. More important, however, he explains how Whitman's attraction to men was at the root of his poetic vision: in Whitman's work the "body electric" is more than a metaphor. Walt Whitman: A Gay Life is a vital addition to Whitman studies and critical work on American literature.Book Description
Though Walt Whitman's poetry is known for its unabashed physicality and sexual energy, few biographers have directly confronted the impact of Whitman's sexuality and his cherished fraternal relationships on his art. Gary Schmidgall's fresh, insightful readings and innovative biographical technique illuminate the vital connection between Whitman's life as a homosexual and his legacy as a landmark literary artist.Through careful examination of contemporary sources and Whitman's own writing, including his letters and personal journals, Schmidgall explores Whitman as artist, lover, and friend. What emerges is a fascinating portrait of a man of deeply sexual nature, ardently pursuing the objects of his desire in erotic encounters and love affairs that fueled his creative energy and inspired his seminal literary achievements.Candid, unapologetic, and deeply revealing, Walt Whitman: A Gay Lifeenriches our understanding of the father of American poetry. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (4)

I... don't really think Whitman wanted us to ponder this
In a world where historical figures as prominant and as influential as Walt Whitman are thought to be Homosexual, its very unfortunate for people who study Modern American literature like myself that "Historians" jump to outrageous conclusions, spurred on by desire for fame and a savage media, as in this book.

Didn't Walt Whitman want his readers to be captivated by his beautiful use of the English language and criticize events such as the American Civil War? These overprivalaged "hisorians" need not take out frustrations on such great men. The fist of Satan on America and the rest of the world is tightening, especially with the reelection of an international terrorist in November and our little "War on Terrorism" which enters its 4th year in September. What we need is a War on Poverty, a War on Ignorance, and a War on Men such as Bush who do an excellent job of speeding up the decline of the American Empire. "Bread and Circuses" and constant warfare with people like the Carthaginians in the Punic Wars contributed to the fall of the Roman Empire. I think America will go out in a classical style and fear that another Middle Ages will haunt generations which will come a few hundred years after this is published.


Mr. Schmidgall, I must applaud you for trying to bring Whitman to another generation but I personally think you might've taken the words of Ginsberg a little too seriously...

Walt would love this...
One of the things that people often do is to take their heroes and try to see within that person themselves. It's only natural. It's through someone else's greatness that we experience it, and often, find our own. So it's not surprising that many Whitman biographers have passively denied Whitman's homosexuality, or out right refuted it. It's also not surprising that Gary Schmidgall takes a different view, and sees Whitman through the eyes of a gay man, writing an impressive, passioned look at Whitman's life called "Walt Whitman: A Gay Life".

Based on a look on Whitman's poetry, letters, and other sources, Schmidgall tells a tale of a gay Whitman. This isn't a biography, however, which Scmidgall admits right away. His book attempts to describe Whitman during different phases in his life, particularly important ones that would have shaped his gay identity. Therefore, the focus is not broad across the span of Whitman's many years, but very intensely focused specific times, for example, Whitman as an opera lover.

Schmidgall admits upfront the task before him which is enormous; being that in all of Whitman's known correspondances, interviews, archival evidence, details on his sexuality and sex life is scanity at best. We have no big true confessional, and when asked directly about the sexual content of "Leaves of Grass", his pat answer is to let the work speak for itself. However, Schmidgall does an awesome job reconstructing Whitman, looking at everything through the eyes of a gay man, bringing the poet alive much more than other biographies which I've read.Schmidgall liberally uses the words like "imagine, think, suppose" when talking about his points, but you forgive him. The task is daunting, but well done.

Whitman is alive in this book as he never has been before. Whereas more scholarly books fail to adequately persue Whitman's sexuality, this one brings it alive, and therefore, brings Whitman alive in a wonderful sense. You can almost hear the poet chuckling in the background as you read some of the passages. Whatever the effect, Whitman has been drawn closer to my heart because of this book, and I highly recommend it.

not the only book on whitman, but...
this is a great book to add to the growing collection of whitman biographies. don't make this the only one you read, however. that said, it does an amazing and passionate job that i think whitman would appreciate.

Finally, the Truth About Whitman
Undoubtedly, the most amazing thing about the many Whitman bio's (and there's certainly no shortage of them), is their denial of hishomosexuality.This is why Schmmidgall's work stands head and shouldersabove them all (including Jerome Loving's seemingly exhaustive bio thatdoesn't present Whitman as being gay).The trouble with Loving and therest who would deny Whitman's sexuality is that they are either terriblyhomophobic, or that they never read any of Whitman's poetry.The onlyreason I gave the book a three star rating, is because I don't feel it's agood first-Whitman-book to read for the uninitiated.Rather, I would startwith his actual poetry, maybe read a popular bio, and then end up withSchmidgall's "Gay Life". ... Read more

Book Description

Customer Reviews (1)

Walt Whitman is a talented, visionary writer!
This book is highly entertaining and quaint, and it also teaches acceptance and peace through example. With views that even today are still evolving in America, Whitman almost seems to have written this book in2050, and just slipped it back in time for us to read now. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

As good as it gets!
A remarkable book. The scholarship, writing, editing and
production values are of top quality.
A wonderful addition to anyone's library!. ... Read more

Amazon.com
Despite the general resistance to his work on the part of his literary contemporaries, and their disapproval of his homoeroticism, Walt Whitman experienced incredible success during his lifetime. After the 1855 publication ofLeaves of Grass (the first of nine editions of the book he personally saw through the press), he fast became America's national poet. He was asked to write poems commemorating the victims of natural disasters and was offered a free burial plot in exchange for a poem lauding the cemetery's beauty. Millionaire Andrew Carnegie was one of his vigorous supporters.

Whitman's success is most likely the result of the approachability--he wrote often of the immediate: the sounds of the city, men bathing in the river, the mystery around the next corner--and sheer beauty of his poems. He was also an expert self-promoter. Long before the advent of the blurb in contemporary publishing, Whitman would include reviews of his books in the appendices. Many of these were actually written by him and a few were even critical, in order to maintain a sense of objectivity. He carefully controlled his public image, but assiduously guarded his private realm, which is why, more than a century after the poet's death, debate still rages about his sexual proclivity--there simply isn't enough proof one way or another. The Song of Himself, the first comprehensive biography of Whitman in 20 years, is rich with details of its subject's life and times and cogent analysis of his poetry--a book that is sure to increase readers' understanding of the great poet and reinvigorate their interest in his work. --Anna BaldwinBook Description
Walt Whitman: The Song of Himself is the first full-length critical biography of Walt Whitman in more than forty years. Jerome Loving makes use of recently unearthed archival evidence and newspaper writings to present the most accurate, complete, and complex portrait of the poet to date. This authoritative biography affords fresh, often revelatory insights into many aspects of the poet's life, including his attitudes toward the emerging urban life of America, his relationships with his family members, his developing notions of male-male love, his attitudes toward the vexed issue of race, and his insistence on the union of American states. Virtually every chapter presents material that was previously unknown or unavailable, and Whitman emerges as never before, in all his complexity as a corporal, cerebral, and spiritual being. Loving gives us a new Poet of Democracy, one for the twenty-first century.
Loving brings to life the elusive early Whitman, detailing his unhappy teaching career, typesetting jobs, quarrels with editors, and relationships with family and friends. He takes us through the Civil War--with Whitman's moving descriptions of the wounded and dying he nursed, the battlegrounds and camps he visited--demonstrating why the war became one of the defining events of Whitman's life and poetry. Loving's account of Whitman's relationship with Ralph Waldo Emerson is one of the most complete and fascinating available. He also draws insights from new material about Whitman's life as a civil servant, his Lincoln lectures, and his abiding campaign to gain acceptance for what was regarded by many as a "dirty book." He examines each edition of Leaves of Grass in connection with the life and times that produced it, demonstrating how Whitman's poetry serves as a priceless historical document--marking such events as Grant's death, the completion of the Washington monument, Custer's defeat, and the Johnstown flood--at the same time that it reshapes the canon of American literature.
The most important gap in the Whitman record is his journalism, which has never been completely collected and edited. Previous biographers have depended on a very incomplete and inaccurate collection. Loving has found long-forgotten runs of the newspapers Whitman worked on and has gathered the largest collection of his journalism to date. He uses these pieces to significantly enhance our understanding of where Whitman stood in the political and ideological spectra of his era.
Loving tracks down the sources of anecdotes about Whitman, how they got passed from one biographer to another, were embellished and re-contextualized. The result is a biography in which nothing is claimed without a basis in the factual record. Walt Whitman: The Song of Himself will be an invaluable tool for generations to come, an essential resource in understanding Leaves of Grass and its poet--who defied literary decorum, withstood condemnation, and stubbornly pursued his own way. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (5)

From a Former Student
I took a Whitman seminar from Dr. Loving, and this was our textbook.It is very dy, and very full of detail.I love Whitman's work, and reading this biography really helped me understand more about it.

The good gray poet of Camden
The poet died in 1892.In life he became notorious and a positive influence on the reformers of the day.The author states he supplied the model for the count in Bram Stoker's DRACULA.The first edition of LEAVES OF GRASS was 1855, the last 1881.Whitman was not as solitary as previously assumed.For the poet the Civil Warbecame a marriage ceremony of sorts.At forty three Whitman was too old for the rigors of combat.In 1862 Whitman went to the front in search of his brother George.Subsequently traveling to Washington D.C. he began his career as a wound dresser.Whitman immersed himself in the pathos of the terrible struggle.

Whitman's capacity to love was the dynamo of LEAVES OF GRASS.He was a former printer, second son in the family.Whitman's ancestry was essentially Dutch and English.He concluded his formal schooling at age eleven.Between 1836 and 1841 Whitman taught at eight district schools on Long Island.By 1855 Whitman had read Emerson.In 1840 he made the prophetic announcement that he was thinking of writing a book.The tone of Whitman's early writings is moralistic.Whitman wrote a temperance novel entitled FRANKLIN EVANS.

Whitman was a privte poet who made public his boundless affection for the one in the many.Whitman was no New England reformer.His utopia was not an agrarian retreat.In the 1840's Whitman dressed in a conventional way.Whitman loved Indian names and thought the nation was losing something through its policy of Indian removal.At the same time he had Darwainian confidence that the Indians faced extinction.Whitman was appalled by capital punishment.He saw the matter within the context of the haves and the nave-nots.

The Bible was an influence later on his poetry.Whitman was editor of the BROOKLYN EAGLE 1846-1848.Whitman saw slavery as a social evil.He never became an abolitionist in a political or formal sense.Whitman lost his job and traveled south to New Orleans.He worked at the CRESCENT but later separated from that publication possibly by mutual agreement.His favorite poet was William Cullen Bryant.It may have occurred to him at this time that he was wearing out his opportunities in journalism.Travel beyond Long Island and New York City had fed his imagination at least.

Whitmam, a product of "charity schooling", was socially and economically different from Emerson and others.Whitman was involved in Free-Soil politics.He became the editor of the FREEMAN.As the paper adopted a softer tone, Whitman was pushed out of the editorial office.LEAVES OF GRASS began to take shape in his mind in the 1850's.Parallels abound between Emerson's first two collections of essays and Whitman's first three editions of LEAVES OF GRASS.Whitman was interested in problems of democracy and the development of genius.He probably heard or knew of Emerson's address "Natural Aristocracy."Whitman was awash in romantic ideas about art and the artist.

Whitman's favorite composers of opera were Rossini, Donizetti, Bellini, and Verdi.Italian opera emphasized the human voice over the orchestration.It is because of Italian opera that LEAVES OF GRASS may be read aloud.BEL CANTO sent Whitman into moments of rapture.LEAVES OF GRASS is a solitary act.The terms leaves and grass are printer's lingo.The use of leaves in a book title was common.Whitman felt that the genius in the United States was always in the common people.Emerson wrote that famous letter on July 21, 1855 greeting Whitman "at the beginning of a great career."

Whitman blurred the difference between poetry and prose. Whitman took the single line as the rhythmical unit.James Russell Lowell supported Whitman's poetry with reservations.Richard Moncton Milnes was a notable English supporter.Alcott left a full account of a visit with Whitman in 1856.Emerson thought the poet should use self-censorship on his Children of Adam poems for the 1860 edition.The only contemporary response to homosexuality and the Calamus poems was a letter of the English critic John Aldington Symonds in 1890.William Dean Howells and Henry James did not like the poetry in DRUM TAPS or any of the other offerings of Whitman.William Rossetti arranged for an English edition of LEAVES OF GRASS.

Whitman was a commencement speaker at Dartmouth in 1872.In the 1870's he moved to Camden and suffered the first stroke.Ill health did not prevent him from being productive in later life.His last essay treated Elias Hicks, a Quaker artist, who had been an influence on his work.This critical biography is excellent.

Most comprehensive, and least theory-ridden Whitman Bio.
In this latest biography of quite possibly the most important American poet, Jerome Loving takes on a Herculean labor: to present the facts about a man who endeavored to create himself as an icon, and who has been taken up by a dozen causes and ideologies as one of their own (some have regarded Whitman as a religious figure on par with Christ, a homosexual liberator, or a proto-communist).The result of a great deal of combining and comparing, winnowing opinion, propaganda, and rumor, is a cautious, complex, and detailed view of the facts of Whitman's life.

On the issues currently 'hot' in debate about the poet (his homosexuality or lack thereof, his attitudes towards immigrants, women, and African-Americans), Loving doesn't succumb to the temptation to either sanctify his subject or make him simply a partisan of the current opinions, but rather weighs and presents the evidence in as close to an impartial manner as I've seen.The lack of a simplistic, overarching narrative to Loving's life of Whitman (the kind of narrative found in many other bios) is true to the facts of life and scholarship--sometimes we can't know. I've found this book scrupulously up-to-date; it corrects many factual errors found in earlier Whitman bios.It is required reading for any Whitman scholar, and a good read as well for those interested in knowing more about the Good Grey Poet than his poems tell us by themselves.

"I felt as if I was by the poets side each and every moment.
After reading Loving's book on Whitman it only enhanced my spirit to read and analyze more of this Poet's life and poetry.I decieded to write about Whitman in my class at college and used Loving's book as a research meanstogether with other books form the university library. I feel as if I knowmore about good "Old Walt" then I do my own family.This wastruly a good read.Enjoy!!!

Life detailed more than revealed
As a probably a-typical reader (I've not read Whitman's poems very thoroughly or very recently), I was nonetheless very interested to read about his life in incredible detail. Loving chronicles Whitman's movementsto and fro - professionally, geographically, and artistically. His abilityto deliver the flavor of the era via exposition of the political and socialissues is quite good, however, at the "juiciest" of moments yousometimes feel disappointed. For example, there is quite a bit writtenabout Whitman's Free Soil politics vs. abolistionist and how thatultimately destroys his friendship with his stalwart supporter O'Connor.The information is conveyed -- but I feel that I am missing some of thepassion -- of their relationship to begin with -- and then of the heatedargument they reportedly had. Perhaps this information was unavailable.

I could conclude that Loving did not wish to guess -- but on severaloccasions in the book he speculates freely and without tons of support. Iguess I would have prefered more freedom to speculate by the scholar.

Still - if the reader is seeking a landscape upon which to speculate thisshould indeed be ample. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

The Essence of Walt Whitman
As we pass through another period in our history where unspeakable wars seem imminent, the great poets of the present and past draw focus, attempting to sound the alarm that might just possibly awaken us.And always chief among those poets who felt the folly and shame of war is Walt Whitman.So it is no wonder that collections of his poems re-surface and hopefully nourish a generation of young people who face the possibility of following the lifted sword.

Whitman's voice, in this collection from the Calamus poems, is turned toward a more personal declaration of intimacy between men rather than fist-shaking against war.In a beautifully designed and curated format, David Groff has selected poems that are enhanced by Richard Berman's selection of photographic images to allow the reader to listen more carefully to the thoughts of the master.Here we are not ask to weep as with "The Wound Dresser": here we celebrate the comradery and love between the living.The sensitive photographs are the contributions of John Dugdale, Mark Beard, Robert Flynt, Bill Jacobson, Russell Maynor, Frank Yamrus and Steve Morrison, and while none of these images is "illustrational", each embellishes the poetry in a way one believes Walt Whitman would mightily approve.A beautiful volume this.

A CELEBRATION OF LIFE
Not only is this a book of beautiful photographs beautifully reproduced, it also has many of Walt Whitman's wonderful Calamus poems from his classic "Leaves of Grass."

The seven male, contemporary photographers represented in the book are all dealing in their images with the themes set forth in Whitman's poetry:loss, love of life and nature and mankind, death, love of man for man, loneliness, companionship, etc.:a man bathing in a tin tub in a John Dugdale cyanotype; two men embracing underwater in a mysterious Robert Flynt image; a man, stripped to the waist, standing alone staring at the camera, in what seems an old, empty house in the hand-colored photograph by Mark Beard; Russell Maynor's color Poloroid of a young, male nude---all of the 76 fascinating photographs in this small, perfectly put together volume deserve to be seen, seen again and shared.

And then, of course, there are always Whitman's magnificent words:"...Doubtless I could not have perceived the universe, or written one of my poems, if I had not freely given myself to comrades, to love."VERY HIGHLY RECOMMENDED ... Read more

Book Description
From the time he was a boy, Walt Whitman loved words. In this dramatic, true story, you can travel with through a young America, read his poetry celebrating a nation and it's people, experience his life-altering work in the Civil War, and discover that there are many ways to love and honor your country.Meticulously researched and documented, and fueled by Kerley and Selznick's trademark passion, Walt Whitman: Words for America is the consummate portrait of a man and an artist who is a symbol of America. His powerful and deeply affecting story -- brought stunningly, imaginatively to life in words and pictures -- will inspire readers of all ages to pick up their pens and open their heart to humanity. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (6)

A fantastic journey into the life of America's poet
I am doing my Masters Project on the life of Walt Whitman during the Civil War. Though this book does not add anything new to my project, I am including it in my Bibliography because it is a book I think everyone should read.Yes, it is a children's book, but it accurately portrays the life of Whitman from the time he was a child to the time of his death.I particularly like the section about the Civil War and I know that the author has all the facts correct.What makes this book such a great reading experience is the accompanying art work on each page.The art is exceptional and adds to the reading experience.Whether you are a child or an adult with a passing interest in Whitman, this book should be on the top of your reading list.

My favorite page is the one directly after the Civil War spread.It contains the portraits of Civil War soldiers.What makes this special is that each picture is based on an actual photo of real people, and the one portrait in color is really Whitman's brother George (I am using the same picture in my Masters Project).Each painting of the portrait really captures the expression of the soldiers.My other favorite painting is the close up of Whitman's face as an old man at the end of the book. The sparkle in his eye captures the sparkle in the man's entire life.

This is a fantastic book that I highly recommend. You should look at it as an experience - it is not a complete biography of America's famous poet, but an interactive experience between the important events in his life and the paintings that convey meaning and significance.I am very happy I came across this book, and I think everyone who buys and reads this book will also be impressed.

Thunderstruck
Walt Whitman lived a life of a "rough", or an everyman, and his poetry reflected his very special common uniqueness. Going against prescribed form of the time, Whitman fashioned himself a style of poetry unto itself, brash, fresh, untamed. Such words can be used to descirbe this stunning, and I mean absolutely stunning, children's book on the life of Walt Whitman, by Barbara Kerley, illustrated by Brian Selznick.

Never before have I seen a celebration of a poet's life done so wonderfully. It manages to capture the beautiful essence of the man, while explaining to children in an easy to understand manner. The life of Walt comes alive, from his childhood to the very last years of his life, and the text is peppered with awesome quotes from some of his most famous poems.

Particularly amazing his how Kerley describes Walt's selfless love of the Civl War soldiers whom he tended in Washington DC hospitals. His actions during this time show the depth of feeling he had for these poor boys, and children will respond with their innate sense of empathy towards Walt.

The text is amazing, and the pictures equal it. Selznick has illustrated Walt in all stages of his life, from child to the wizened old man we've all come to associate with him. Selznick's pictures are honest and endearing, again, those that relate to Walt's caring of the soldiers. Even using type similiar to that Walt would have used in his earlier typesetting days, the pictures support and extend the text timelessly.

It's been amazing that within the last few years, a spate of books celebrating our nation's most beloved poets are coming to fruition. It's about time. Our youth need to hear the voices of these people... Langston Hughes... Emily Dickinson... and now Walt Whitman, not only to instill a sense of pride with the country that they live, but also, within the sense of pride within themselves. This book will serve as a benchmark for these books in years to come.

A man who shook his white locks at the runaway sun
The Barbara Kerly/Brian Selznick combination becomes more powerful each time it occurs.First of all, if you haven't gone out and viewed their "Dinosaurs of Waterhouse Hawkins" then you should do so immediately.Do not halt for man, angel, or beast.Just get out there, grab yourself a copy, and thank the high heavens that you did so before reaching the end of your brief span upon this globe.After having read that book (and you will be glad you did) you'll be ready to fully appreciate this author/illustrator duo's latest exploration into another fabulous human being's life.Our dear gay American poet Walt Whitman is their most recent subject and he is rendered here in full glorious life.Spotted with his poetry, his beliefs, and his incredible life, "Walt Whitman: Words For America" offers an answer to any kid who wonders why the heck they should study some old dead white guy from more than 100 years ago.A stirring answer at that.

Aside from the circular picture of Walt standing with a cocky fist on his hip, your first image in this book of the man displays him at the tender age of 12.Working carefully as a typesetter for a newspaper (comparisons to Ben Franklin seem obvious at this point), Walt began his career as a poet with a job that put him into direct messy contact with all kinds of letters and words.In addition to creating his own newspaper at 19, Walt read fantastical stories for his own amusement.You see him as a young man rushing through the streets of Manhattan fully clothed and along the beaches of Long Island buck naked (tastefully, of course).As Walt grew, his concern for fellow human beings, including the slaves of the South, did as well.He published "Leaves of Grass", traveled the country, then became involved with the war between the states.It's the Civil War that takes up most of Walt's life in this book.Whether he was tending to those wounded in battle, debating his own feelings towards President Lincoln, or collapsing from the exhaustion of working too darn hard, the book follows Whitman hither and thither.By the end Whitman truly became the poet of the people, giving the world poems that have remained deeply embedded in the human psyche, whether we know it or not.

As with their previous collaboration, Kerly and Selznick follow up their book with a long and extended section of additional facts about Mr. Whitman.They talk about how they become interested in the project, where their research took them, and how they feel about the man.They offer addition info on his life (preferring not to mention the whole homosexual aspect, I guess), Lincoln's life, and what Walt's life was like after the war.They also include eight poems, some complete and some just important snippets.It makes for a truly comprehensive picture book, I can tell you.

The book itself, however, is a visual delight.There are some truly gutsy moves being made within its pages.At one point you see only a bright blue sky containing a yellow sun and fast moving clouds containing the words, "Whoever you are now I place my hand upon you that you be my poem".At another point Selznick takes the photographs of the wounded holding slates and puts a word from a Whitman poem on each and every one.I was pleased to note that the authentic daguerreotypes that Selznick has reproduced here include black as well as white soldiers (something not every illustrator would think to include).Finally, in a truly cute move, Selznick just barely includes the two oranges and paper crane he found at Whitman's grave in the picture of the same.

As picture biographies go, this one is wordy but worth it.Kerley knows how to write an exciting tale and Whitman makes for a remarkably exciting personality.He's one of those heroes you aren't ashamed to call as such.A wonderful addition for anyone whose juvenile Whitman section seems a bit lacking.

learn about Walt
This is the life story of the famous poet Walt Whitman.We learn about his life growing up on into adulthood.We learn that he had a real passion for America and it;'s people.This is where the inispration for his poems came from.



The book was written in picture book/ storty book form.Although it was a non-fiction book it was fun and easy to read.


We would recommed this book to others who are interested in knowing more about Walt Whitman.This would be helpful to students who might be researching his life for school projects.

Richie's Picks: WALT WHITMAN: WORDS FOR AMERICA
"There was never any more inception than there is now,
Nor any more youth or age than there is now;
And will never be any more perfection than there is now,
Nor any more heaven or hell than there is now."
--One of my favorite passages from Walt Whitman's "Song of Myself" from Leaves of Grass,

Technically speaking, "breathtaking" is a term which denotes a combined physical and emotional reaction that can sometimes result from a significant stimulus to one or more of the senses.

Unfortunately, "breathtaking," (often written as "BREATHTAKING!!!"), has become an over-utilized adjective that is regularly tossed out when describing teeth whiteners, automobiles, photos from Mars, movies in which one or more people die, vacation rentals, revealing swim attire, and various other goods and services being offered for sale.

Therefore, I hesitate to use the term "breathtaking," even though it most accurately describes my initial reaction to a series of Brian Selznick's illustrations in the upcoming WALT WHITMAN: WORDS FOR AMERICA, Selznick's second illustrated biography with author Barbara Kerley.

This is a very different book for me than their previous collaboration, THE DINOSAURS OF WATERHOUSE HAWKINS, which received a 2002 Caldecott Honor. I had never even heard of Waterhouse Hawkins, and thus my fondest memories of that book naturally tend toward aspects of the man's unusual story, such as the extraordinary New Year's Eve feast Hawkins hosted inside a life-size iguanodon model, and the horror of Boss Tweed's having ordered the destruction and burial of the models Hawkins had spent years painstakingly laboring to build for an ill-fated Central Park museum.

In the case of Walt Whitman, I grew up on Long Island near Walt Whitman Road, Walt Whitman Mall, and various Walt Whitman historic markers. I became basically familiar with the work of Walt Whitman in high school English classes, and already knew the general highlights of his life. What I was hoping for, when I learned that Brian and Barbara were working on this book, was a new look at the man that would cause myself and young readers to feel like we had really gotten to know this great American poet.

As with Waterhouse Hawkins, they have succeeded in this regard with Walt Whitman.

In WALT WHITMAN: WORDS FOR AMERICA, Barbara Kerley begins with a wonderful portrayal of the poet's younger years that will provoke questions about the lives of kids in that era.

"At age 12, he began work as a printer's apprentice, learning to typeset newspaper articles. He saw the boxes of letters as a great mystery, waiting to unfold. Awkwardly, he held the compositor's stick, eager to see the words form--letter by letter--beneath his inky fingers."

"Within two years he was setting articles that he himself had written. After the newspaper was printed, his heart thumped 'double beat' as he smoothed it open and admired his work. Even when he wasn't working, Walt surrounded himself with words. He listened to famous speakers and joined a debating society. He attended plays, appreciating a fine performance 'in every...cell' of his head and heart."

So how does Selznick begin his visual accompaniment to Kerley's words? Opposite the title page he illustrates a wooden-framed typeset of that facing title page--the perfect mirror image as far as the type itself is concerned. The surrounding pieces of wood are shaded with the hints of rose and purples that anyone intimately familar with wood-grains will be able to immediately feel on their fingertips and savor just by looking at them.

In fact, throughout the book, one of the aspects to repeatedly strike me about Selznick's illustrations is his incredible success in creating that feel of the various woodgrains and the lamplight which illuminates the wood, whether it is raw wood or honeyed from varnish, wax, or wear. There was no such thing as plastic in Whitman's lifetime, and I was constantly drawn to the fact that Brian's paintings so meticulously and (yes) breathtakingly portray in every detail the texture and materials of the 19th century world in which the poet lived.

And then there are Selznick's various paintings of Whitman himself, from boy to man, to elderly poet. There is one such large portrait thoroughly etched into my brain, where Whitman, apparently reacting to the assassination of Lincoln, stares pensively out at us while a few whisps of his white hair fall across his brow.

Another unforgettable (and heartbreaking) vision is that of a family at home during the Civil War, reacting to having just received a letter from Whitman letting them know that their son, whom Whitman had been caring for in a hospital, was no longer.

Beyond the actual story, both Kerley and Selznick provide thoroughly fascinating notes at the conclusion of the book. For instance, Brian notes that:

"Ms. [Barbara] Henry told me that the capital letters were placed on the upper shelf and the others on the lower shelf which is why we now have the terms 'uppercase' and 'lowercase.' "

The book also concludes with the poems from which the excerpts in the story are taken.

I knew a bunch about Walt Whitman, but for the first time the storied namesake of paved roads and shopping emporiums has become a real person for me, both in words and in pictures.

... Read more

Book Description
Comprising more than 30 substantial essays written by leading scholars, this companion constitutes an exceptionally broad-ranging and in-depth guide to one of America’s greatest poets.

• Timed to contribute to the year-long celebration of the 150th anniversary of the original publication of Whitman’s masterpiece, Leaves of Grass (First Edition, 1855).
  
• Makes the best and most up-to-date thinking on Whitman available to students.
  
• Designed to make readers more aware of the social and cultural contexts of Whitman’s work, and of the experimental nature of his writing.
  
• Includes contributions devoted to specific poetry and prose works, a compact biography of the poet, and a bibliography.

Customer Reviews (1)

An anthology of 35 original essays written by leading scholars
A Companion To Walt Whitman is an anthology of 35 original essays written by leading scholars, discussing the cultural and literary context of Whitman's classic poetry and prose works. From the influence of nineteenth-century popular culture on Whitman and his literature, to the repercussions of the American Civil War, to the unique nuances of the very first edition of "Leaves of Grass", A Companion To Walt Whitman is an erudite exploration of not only the works themselves and their reflection of Whitman's era, but also the valuable insights they convey to present and future generations. Highly recommended.
... Read more