A collectible new Penguin Classics series: stunning, clothbound editions of ten favourite poets, which present each poet's most famous book of verse as it was originally published. Designed by the acclaimed Coralie Bickford-Smith and beautifully set, these slim, A format volumes are the ultimate gift for poetry lovers. In 1855 Walt Whitman published his first collection of poetry, Leaves of Grass. The volume received great praise from leading Transcendentalist poet Ralph Waldo Emerson. This encouraged what would become a lifelong project as Whitman expanded and rewrote the volume until his death in 1892. Whitman's innovative use of free verse and the quotidian achieved his aim of reaching out to the everyday American. This edition, based on the earliest published version of 1855, features Whitman's most famous poem 'Song of Myself', an American epic inspired by his personal experiences.
Walt Whitman
Walt Whitman was an American poet, essayist, and journalist, born in 1819 in West Hills, New York. He is best known for his groundbreaking poetry collection "Leaves of Grass," which was first published in 1855 and went through multiple editions during his lifetime. Whitman's poetic style was characterized by free verse, expansive imagery, and a celebration of the individual and the natural world. He is often considered one of the most influential poets in American literature, with his work challenging traditional poetic forms and exploring themes of democracy, individualism, and the human experience. Whitman's impact on the genre of poetry is still felt today, with his work inspiring generations of poets and writers.