Song of Myself

Auteur

Walt Whitman was an American poet, journalist, and essayist, born on May 31, 1819, in West Hills, New York. He is best known for his poetry collection Leaves of Grass, which he published in 1855. This collection is considered a masterpiece of American literature and is known for its bold, free verse style and celebration of nature, democracy, and the common man.Whitman grew up in a large family and had limited formal education, but he was an avid reader and taught himself a variety of skills, including typesetting and printing. He began his career as a journalist and worked for a number of newspapers throughout his life. During the Civil War, he volunteered as a nurse and saw firsthand the suffering of soldiers. This experience influenced his later writing, and he became known for his compassionate and empathetic portrayal of humanity in his work.In addition to his work as a writer, Walt Whitman was also a social and political activist. He was an advocate for women's rights, abolitionism, and the rights of workers. His writing often addressed these issues directly and he was known for his progressive views. Whitman believed in the power of literature to effect social change and he used his writing to promote the idea of a more democratic and egalitarian society. His poetry and essays continue to inspire and influence readers today, making him an enduring figure in American literary and cultural history.Whitman's writing was often controversial in his time, but it has had a lasting impact on American literature and culture. His work influenced many writers, including Langston Hughes and Allen Ginsberg, and his celebration of the individual and the natural world continue to resonate with readers today. Whitman died on March 26, 1892, in Camden, New Jersey, but his legacy as a pioneering figure in American literature endures.

Texte du rabat

"Song of Myself", a portion of Walt Whitman's monumental poetry collection "Leaves of Grass", is perhaps one of his most loved poems. Whitman is considered by many to be one of the most important and influential American poets of all time and it is the beautiful and moving "Song of Myself" that helped cement his reputation. Exhilarating, fresh, epic, and modern, the poem is at its essence an optimistic and inspirational look at the world. It is also a brilliant and fascinating study in diction and wordplay. First composed in 1855, the poem seeks to capture the unique language and meanings of words of that time, while also embracing the rapidly changing world of mid-nineteenth century America. "Song of Myself" is the essential distillation of Whitman's poetic vision, which sought to make poetry more appealing and readable by employing a free verse style and a simple form. While it was hailed as a modern masterpiece by many critics soon after its first publication, it was also far ahead of its time and was considered scandalous and obscene for its frank depiction of human sexuality and desire. Revised over the years along with Whitman's other works, "Song of Myself" is presented here in its final form as it appeared in the "Death-Bed" edition of "Leaves of Grass". This edition is printed on premium acid-free paper.