Whitman

Walt Whitman was the most innovative and influential poet of the nineteenth century. The self-proclaimed “American Bard,” Whitman challenged his contemporaries to resist conforming to society. Beneath his manifesto for social revolution lies a vigorous call for spiritual revolution as well. This sampling of Whitman’s most important poetry from Leaves of Grass, and selections from his prose writings, offers a glimpse into the spiritual side of his most radical themes—love for country, love for others, and love of self. Rich with passion, reverence, and wonder, this unique collection offers insight into Whitman’s quest for self-discovery, which involved an ongoing mystical experience of the world.