Leaves of Grass by Walt Whitman

Leaves of Grass (Jefferson Publication) (Dover Thrift Editions) (Getting Started in) (Leather-bound Classics) (Enriched Classics) (Collected Writings of Walt Whitman) (Childrens Poems) (Illustrated Classic Editions) (Vintage Classics) (Penguin Clothbound Poetry)

by Walt Whitman

“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.

Reviewed by Michael @ Knowledge Lost on

3 of 5 stars

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I'm not sure how to review poetry. I don't read much of it, but I love the romantics and seem to have entrenched myself with their works. so I wanted to try something different and this seems to be a highly recommend collection. I enjoyed it, it was bold, lyrical but felt overly optimistic, which I'm not into.

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  • Started reading
  • 29 October, 2013: Finished reading
  • 29 October, 2013: Reviewed