Leaves of Grass

by Walt Whitman

The first edition of Leaves of Grass, a slim green volume typeset by the author’s own hand, was published in 1855. Since then, Walt Whitman has been both criticized as obscene and celebrated as the "good gray poet" and the Poet of Democracy. In light of the hundred years that have passed, Richard Chase offers a timely reevaluation of Whitman as both man and poet.

As noted in the dust jacket:

"Dozens of biographies and critical monographs have been written about him. His standing as a poet has soared and fallen and risen again, often praised and attacked for entirely the wrong reasons. Chase's work, coinciding with the centenary of Leaves of Grass, seeks to treat Whitman with warmth and understanding, while also presenting a thoughtful critique. He acknowledges that 'you can't treat a man like Whitman lovingly without offering him considerable opposition,' leading to a stimulating study that reveals Whitman's many public personas."

Whitman emerges as a complex figure, known as the Poet of Democracy while also embodying a conservative spirit. As Chase explores the paradoxes in Whitman's work, he captures the essence of a poet who invited the world to "dance, laugh, and sing" while remaining deeply urban in his outlook.

Book details:

Title: Walt Whitman Reconsidered

Author: Walt Whitman

Condition: Good. Foxed (dustjacket), chipped

Binding: Hardcover

Publisher: Victor Gollanz

Publication Date: 1955