Leaves of Grass

Front cover of "Leaves of Grass" first edition.

History of the Book

"Leaves of Grass" is a collection of poems written by Walt Whitman, which was first published in 1855 in Brooklyn, New York. Brooklyn is close to where Whitman was from and frequently wrote about. These poems took on a variety of themes including nature, democracy, identity, spirituality, and the human body. Whitman self-published the first version of the book using his own money. This particular first edition copy was donated to Penn by Henry R. Pemberton, a former employee of the university. He was the only previous owner. Although this copy was issued in 1855, Whitman continued to revise and add poems to the collection, and subsequent editions were printed until 1892. Overall, "Leaves of Grass" is considered a groundbreaking work of American literature, and it helped to establish Whitman as one of the most significant poets in American history.

Material Analysis

Binding of Penn Libraries edition of "Leaves of Grass".

Inside cover of "Leaves of Grass".

The outside of the book appears to be made from leather, which was very common in the 1800s. The leather is very worn down and fragile. The pages consist of thin pieces of laid paper that have also grown to be very worn down. The size of the book is huge, especially for poems. Each page is over a foot tall with very small margins. There are page breaks used whenever a poem ends, but the majority of each page is flooded with writing. Additionally, the inside of both the front and back cover feature a very colorful pattern that is pictured to the left. This image illustrates Whitman's vibrant writing style and topics.

The structure is very interesting because Whitman does not include his name on the title page and instead includes an image of himself before the beginning of the book. In terms of navigation, the book provides page numbers on the top corners of each page. "Leaves of Grass" is listed at the top of each page. In this sense, the book feels very modern. The only breaks in the book come when a new poem begins, which almost feels like the beginning and end of a new chapter in terms of modern books. Ultimately, the book was very easy to navigate and allows readers to focus on its content.

Historical Context

Many of the poems were considered controversial at the time of publication because of their subject matter, which addressed sexual themes and discussed the body in intimate ways. Whitman's poems celebrated the human body, and he wrote about sexuality in a way that was unconventional and raunchy. Topics like sexuality were not routinely discussed in literature at the time. Additionally, Whitman's writing style was also considered controversial. The poems in "Leaves of Grass" are written in free verse, which means that they do not follow a traditional rhyme or structure. This style of writing was not typical for poetry at the time, and many critics found it difficult to read and understand. In addition, Whitman's poems contained many long lines and run-on sentences, which further challenged the conventions of poetry. Essentially, "Leaves of Grass" stands out from almost all other literature of its time.

Another important part of the historical context is the way that Whitman addressed democracy in certain poems. He spoke bluntly about the United States and stood up for both the spread of democracy and also the so-called common man. He argued in support of farmers and everyday Americans that are overlooked by the government. Many parts of the book almost were supposed to be read as a call to action. Despite the controversy surrounding "Leaves of Grass," the book has since become a well-known work of American literature. Whitman's celebration of the human body and his unconventional writing style influenced many poets and writers who came after him. Today, "Leaves of Grass" is widely regarded as a masterpiece of American poetry and a testament to the power of self-expression in literature. The fame of "Leaves of Grass" paired with its influence on future writers makes it a very historical piece.

Whitman's Self Image

The self-portrait that Whitman includes in "Leaves of Grass".

At the beginning of the book, Whitman includes a portrait of himself, as seen on the right, instead of writing his name of signature. In fact, he does not put his name anywhere on the book. This inclusion of Walt Whitman's portrait in "Leaves of Grass" was a deliberate choice on his part, as it helped to establish his controversial identity and belief in individualism. In fact, Whitman's portrait did not come without speculation. Given that many poems were about sexuality, many believed that Whitman used this image to show himself off and express his own sexuality. By including the image, Whitman was able to create a personal connection with readers and emphasize the intimate nature of his writing. This was a big departure from the conventional style of writing at the time, which typically included the author's name and title as very prominent features.

By using his portrait as a substitute for his name, Whitman was signaling that his work was a personal expression of his own beliefs and values. This is especially of note considering how controversial and personal many of the poems seemed to be. The image seemed to be a fitting addition to the writing style and content of the writing, as all three were noteworthy and personal to Whitman. The inclusion of this portrait helped to establish Whitman's self-image as a poet and a person, and it remains an important symbol of both “Leaves of Grass” and Whitman’s larger legacy. Additionally, it solidifies how Whitman wanted this book to be read in a way that makes readers ask about their own self-image.

Readership and Provenance

The book was previously owned by Henry R. Pemberton. It was donated to the University by him. Pemberton is a former employee of the university and is the only previous owner of the book. It does show significant signs of wear, as many pages are stained and the binding is falling apart. For example, consider the image above of Whitman's self-portrait. Additionally, there are a few markings in the book, which appear to be made by the University. The markings include important information such as “1855”, the publication year, or “RBC” meaning rare book collection. These markings help inform readers and historians about the book. This aside, there were no other notes or signs of writing on the text. Given the notoriety and fame of "Leaves of Grass", both the previous owner and University were likely to be very careful with the book in order to preserve its readability.

Citations

Cohen, P.G. (1997). Texts and Textuality: Textual Instability, Theory, and Interpretation (P. Cohen, Ed.) (1st ed.). Routledge. https://doi.org/10.4324/9780203054574

Mulcaire, Terry. "Publishing Intimacy in Leaves of Grass." ELH 60.2 (1993): 471-501.

Kollerer, Charles Terry. The Valved Voice: A Stylistic Analysis of Witman's 1855 Leaves of Grass. University of California, Davis, 1974.