The Complete Poems

In 1855 Walt Whitman published Leaves of Grass the work which defined him as one of America's most influential voices and which he added to throughout his life. A collection of astonishing originality and intensity it spoke of politics sexual emancipation and what it meant to be an American. From the joyful 'Song of Myself' and 'I Sing the Body Electric' to the elegiac 'When Lilacs Last in the Dooryard Bloom'd' Whitman's art fuses oratory journalism and song in a vivid celebration of humanity. About the Author Walt Whitman (1819-1892) is regarded as one of America's most important nineteenth-century poets. Born in Long Island Whitman grew up in Brooklyn and received a limited formal education. He adopted many professions in his lifetime including printer essayist journalist and school teacher. As early as 1850 Whitman turned his hand to poetry and in 1855 he self-published his greatest work Leaves of Grass. In 1855 Walt Whitman published Leaves of Grass, the work which defined him as one of America's most influential voices, and which he added to throughout his life. A collection of astonishing originality and intensity, it spoke of politics, sexual emancipation and what it meant to be an American. From the joyful 'Song of Myself' and 'I Sing the Body Electric' to the elegiac 'When Lilacs Last in the Dooryard Bloom'd', Whitman's art fuses oratory, journalism and song in a vivid celebration of humanity.