Walt Whitman (1819 - 1892)
In 1850, Whitman self-published about 500 copies of the first edition of Leaves of Grass, sending copies to notable poets and authors including Henry Wadsworth Longfellow. It is reported that Longfellow threw his copy into a blazing fireplace, in disgust with the book.
Ralph Waldo Emerson began his five page response to Whitman with the phrase, "I wish to congratulate you on the beginning of a great career." Emerson was the book's great supporter.
A good history of Whitman's life can also be found on Wikipedia. Click HERE to view it.
My website on the literature of the Civil War contains extensive narrative about Whitman and contains his Drum Taps in its entirety.
Click HERE to read this narrative.
See The Walt Whitman Archives for the various editions and complete texts of Leaves of Grass and the Prose Works.
Like many other Romantic authors, Whitman turned more to prose after the Civil War.
Ralph Waldo Emerson began his five page response to Whitman with the phrase, "I wish to congratulate you on the beginning of a great career." Emerson was the book's great supporter.
A good history of Whitman's life can also be found on Wikipedia. Click HERE to view it.
My website on the literature of the Civil War contains extensive narrative about Whitman and contains his Drum Taps in its entirety.
Click HERE to read this narrative.
See The Walt Whitman Archives for the various editions and complete texts of Leaves of Grass and the Prose Works.
Like many other Romantic authors, Whitman turned more to prose after the Civil War.
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PBS Biography with Spanish Subtitles
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Short Biography of Whitman
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