Leaves of Grass

The Original 1855 Edition

By: Walt Whitman

Narrated by: Benjamin Crow

Leaves of Grass is a poetry collection by the American poet Walt Whitman (1819-1892).

The poems of Leaves of Grass are loosely connected, with each representing Whitman's celebration of his philosophy of life and humanity. This book is notable for its discussion of delight in sensual pleasures 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.

Influenced by Ralph Waldo Emerson and the Transcendentalist movement, itself an offshoot of Romanticism, Whitman's poetry praises nature and the individual human's role in it. However, much like Emerson, Whitman does not diminish the role of the mind or the spirit; rather, he elevates the human form and the human mind, deeming both worthy of poetic praise.

Public Domain (P)2023 Books on Deck

Very well done!

I wasn’t expecting such a skillful reading! I wish this reader would tackle the whole 1891 edition, and other works. We sorely need a good reading of Emerson. Anyway, skip the preface, which is about an hour long. I listened to this reading at 1.1 speed, but your mileage will vary!