Whitman, W. Leaves of Grass. Penguin Books, 1986.
“Leaves Of Grass” is Walt Whitman’s only book. It was originally published in 1855 with twelve poems. "When Lilacs Last in the Dooryard Bloom'd"(an eulogy for President Lincoln’s death) and "Out of the Cradle Endlessly Rocking" are two of his most popular poems which are in this book. He is regarded as a true “American Poet”. He is described as expressing the real spirit of America and free men. This is why I like his poems so much. He has a way of making the reader experience strong feelings of determination and opportunity. I will be quoting these poems a number of times in my final paper.
Kerley, B. Walt Whitman: Words For America. Scholastic, 2004.
Although this book has a lower reading level and pictures in it, it includes a lot of important information about walt whitman. It is in biography form, and tells of his birth in 1819, his death in 1892, as well as how he grew up in long island and brooklyn, New York. As a child He was a printers apprentice and was writing and printing his own newspaper by the age of 19. The author of this biography describes his poems as a “celebration of the common man”. It also tells how he became of voice of his nation through his poetry in the opinion of the author.
Genoways, T. Walt Whitman and the Civil War. Fletcher Jones Foundation Humanities.
Hopefully I will be picking up my copy of this book tomorrow. It’s author writes about Walt Whitman and his actions during what is called his lost years (1860-1862). Walt Whitman was always writing in newspapers, magazines and some of these type of publications which he personally operated. He was a very public writer, his work was often immediately published to be seen by and to inspire the population. I intend on including all of these important facts in my final paper and this book contains a lot of this important information.
Here is a link to some great information about this wonderful poet.
