Audiobooks Poetry Leaves of Grass Book 2

Leaves of Grass

by Walt WHITMAN (1819 - 1892)

Book 2

Leaves of Grass

American poet Walt Whitman’s Leaves of Grass, is a collection of poems notable for its frank delight in and praise of the senses, during a time when such candid displays were considered immoral. Where much previous poetry, especially English, relied on symbolism, allegory, and meditation on the religious and spiritual, Leaves of Grass exalted the body and the material world. Whitman was inspired to begin Leaves of Grass after reading an essay by Ralph Waldo Emerson which expressed a need for a uniquely American poet. When the book was first published, Whitman sent a copy to Emerson, whose praiseful letter of response helped launch the book to success. Whitman’s hero, Abraham Lincoln, read and enjoyed an early version of Leaves of Grass. Despite such high recommendations, Whitman faced charges of obscenity and immorality for his work, but this only led to increased popularity of the book. Whitman continually revised and republished Leaves of Grass throughout his lifetime, notably adding the “Drum-Taps” section after Lincoln’s assassination. The book grew from 12 poems in its first publication, which Whitman paid for and typeset himself, to nearly 400 poems in its final, “Death Bed Edition.” This recording is of the final edition. (Summary adapted from wikipedia.org by Annie Coleman)

Listen next episodes of Leaves of Grass:
Book 13 , Book 14 , Book 15 , Book 16 , Book 17 , Book 18 , Book 19 , Book 20 , Book 21, Part 1 , Book 21, Part 2 , Book 22 , Book 23 , Book 24, Part 1 , Book 24, Part 2 , Book 25 , Book 26 , Book 3, Part 1 , Book 3, Part 2 , Book 3, Part 3 , Book 3, Part 4 , Book 31 , Book 32 , Book 33 , Book 34 , Book 35 , Book 4 , Book 5 , Books 11-12 , Books 27-28 , Books 29-30 , Books 6-7 , Books 8-10