Books

Original mustard cloth. Second state of title-page with -82 not -2 in date. Original mustard cloth. Light fraying to spine ends. Very good. First printing of the 7th edition of Leaves of Grass James Osgood was successor to Ticknor and Reed, the great Boston publisher that had published Emerson, Hawthorne, Longfellow, and the other leading New England authors of the mid-19th century. When Osgood approached Whitman to bring out a new edition of Leaves of Grass, Whitman must have welcomed the mainstream approbation. Still, he reminded Osgood that the old pieces, the sexuality ones, about which the original row was started & kept up so long, are all remained, & must go in the same as ever. Osgood proceeded with publication, but on 1 May 1882, the Massachusetts District Attorney labeled Leaves of Grass obscene and asked for its withdrawal � from circulation (Myerson). Osgood asked Whitman to make the necessary changes, and the poet agreed to change phrases but refused to delete two entire poems, A Woman Waits for Me and Ode to a Common Prostitute. On 10 April Osgood wrote again to say that there seems no alternative for us but to decline to further circulate the book. Whitman received the plates, portraits, and dies as well as about 225 copies in sheets and was paid $100 in cash (Lilly Library). On the basis of the fame of being banned in Boston, the book was quickly taken up by David McKay of the firm Rees Welsh & Co. in Philadelphia, where it achieved strong sales. In the coming years Whitman continued to add annexes to Leaves of Grass, but with the Osgood-McKay edition, it had reached essentially its final form. Myerson A 2.7.a1.

"Leaves of Grass" by Walt Whitman, first self-published in 1855 and revised and expanded in subsequent editions throughout Whitman's life, is a groundbreaking collection of poems that revolutionized American poetry and literary form. At its core, "Leaves of Grass" is a celebration of life, individuality, democracy, and the vastness of the American experience. Comprised of numerous poems, including the iconic "Song of Myself," this collection embodies Whitman's belief in the essential unity of all things and his celebration of the human body and spirit. Whitman's poetry rejects traditional rhyme and meter, opting instead for free verse and a more colloquial, conversational style. His lines often have a musical, rhythmic quality that reflects the ebbs and flows of life itself. The collection is a reflection of Whitman's exuberance for life, exploring themes of nature, love, spirituality, and the human condition. "Song of Myself," perhaps the most famous poem within "Leaves of Grass," is an expansive and inclusive work that encapsulates Whitman's philosophy of the interconnectedness of all people and the celebration of individual identity. It embraces the diversity of America, celebrating people from all walks of life, backgrounds, and experiences. Throughout the collection, Whitman embraces the body and soul, viewing them as interconnected and essential parts of humanity. He celebrates the physical world, the senses, and the human form without reservation, emphasizing the beauty and significance of each individual. Moreover, "Leaves of Grass" evolves over time, with Whitman adding new poems and revising existing ones in later editions. The work serves as a testament to Whitman's evolving perspectives on life, society, and the human experience. Whitman's bold and unapologetic portrayal of the self and the world marked a departure from conventional poetry of his time. His work was controversial for its explicitness and its celebration of the human body and sexuality. However, it also heralded a new era in American literature, influencing generations of poets and writers and leaving a lasting impact on the trajectory of poetic expression and American identity. Through "Leaves of Grass," Whitman aimed to capture the essence of America and the spirit of its people in all their complexity and diversity.