Walt Whitman's Leaves of Grass (150th Anniversary Edition)
$ 13.54
Description
Walt Whitman's Leaves of Grass (150th Anniversary Edition). Edition : 150th Anniversary. This Anniversary Edition faithfully reproduces the typeface, design, and layout of the original edition supervised by Whitman himself. An insightful afterword by Whitman authority David Reynolds discusses the 1855 edition within its social and cultural contexts, exploring its background, reception, and lasting contributions to literary history. Discover the profound significance of Walt Whitman's groundbreaking work, *Leaves of Grass*, as featured in AMC's *Breaking Bad*. In the series, the poem is given by Gale Boetticher to Walter White and later discovered by Hank Schrader, highlighting its cultural and literary importance. This edition offers a rare glimpse into the origins of one of America's most celebrated poems. *Leaves of Grass* begins with the iconic lines: "I celebrate myself, And what I assume you shall assume, For every atom belonging to me as good belongs to you. I loafe and invite my soul, I lean and loafe at my ease....observing a spear of summer grass." These opening words introduce the poem's themes of self-awareness, unity, and the celebration of the physical world. Recognized as the first great American poem, it remains one of the most essential works in the nation's literary canon. Published in July 1855, *Leaves of Grass* marked a pivotal moment in American literary history. Ralph Waldo Emerson praised the volume as "the most extraordinary piece of wit and wisdom America has yet contributed." The 1855 edition was revolutionary, featuring an unusual jacket and title page, an exuberant preface, and twelve free-flowing, untitled poems that embraced a wide range of human experience. Its relaxed style prefigured free verse, and it was notable for its sexual candor, vivid images of racial bonding, democratic ideals, and an intense affirmation of the sanctity of the physical world. This Anniversary Edition faithfully reproduces the typeface, design, and layout of the original edition supervised by Whitman himself. Readers are given a rare opportunity to experience the "ur-text" of *Leaves of Grass*, capturing the first version of this historic volume before Whitman made numerous revisions to its format and style. An insightful afterword by Whitman authority David Reynolds discusses the 1855 edition within its social and cultural contexts, exploring its background, reception, and lasting contributions to literary history. Additionally, the volume includes an appendix with early responses to the work, such as Emerson's letter, Whitman's three self-reviews, and twenty other reviews published in various newspapers and magazines. This special edition is a must-have keepsake for fans of Whitman and enthusiasts of American poetry, offering a rich and authentic glimpse into the origins of one of the most influential works in American literature. Brand : Oxford University Press, USA Title : ABISBOOK Author : Walt Whitman Genre : Poetry Format : Hardcover Language : English Publication Date : 2005 Edition : 150th Anniversary
