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".

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. On the inside part of each cover page, there is a fascinating and colorful design, as pictured ****. 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. 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.

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.. Whitman's poems celebrated the human body, and he wrote about sexuality in a way that was unconventional for the time. 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 meter. 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. Despite the controversy surrounding "Leaves of Grass," the book has since become a seminal 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.

Whitman's Self Image

At the beginning of the book, Whitman includes a portrait of himself 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. 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 inclusion of the 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.