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Leaves of Grass Walt Whitman
Poetry
American Literature
USD$39,881

Description

Second edition, published a year after the first and expanded with 20 new poems, including "Crossing Brooklyn Ferry". This edition also includes a collection of reviews of the first edition, most notably Ralph Waldo Emerson's letter to Whitman, which the poet published without Emerson's permission. The letter includes Emerson's famous endorsement - "I greet you at the beginning of a great career" - which Whitman printed conspicuously on the book's spine. In his letter, Emerson praises Leaves of Grass as "the most extraordinary piece of wit & wisdom America has yet contributed... I find incomparable things said incomparably well... I rubbed my eyes a little to see if this sunbeam were no illusion". Emerson objected to the letter's contents being made public; Whitman later explained that he "supposed the letter was meant to be emblazoned; I regarded it as the chart of an emperor" (quoted in Trowbridge). Octavo. Original green cloth, spine and front cover lettered in gilt, leaf decorations to spine in gilt, floral design and triple-rule frame to covers in blind, rear cover lettered in blind, pale yellow endpapers. Housed in a custom green quarter morocco folding box. Portrait frontispiece, with tissue guard, one page of advertisements at the rear. Ownership inscriptions of Buffalo music tutor Louisa Barrowcliffe Denton (d.1902) to preliminary blanks; bookplate of Brooklyn policeman and army veteran Osceola "Ozzy" Fletcher (1922-2022) and his wife Pauline (1928-2022) to front pastedown. Binding fresh, minimal rubbing, contents lightly foxed as usual, gutter cracked between a couple of gatherings, but firm. A near-fine copy. BAL 21396; Meyerson A2.2; Wells & Goldsmith, pp. 5-6. John Townsend Trowbridge, "Reminiscences of Walt Whitman", Atlantic Monthly, February 1902.

About Leaves of Grass

"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.