Delight in the work that forever changed the course of American poetry!Walt Whitman's modern and ecstatic free-verse poems shocked, enraged, and delighted critics of the time for their celebration of physical pleasures and the human body.Throughout his life, Whitman continuously revised and republished Leaves of Grass, but the 1855 original, reproduced in this elegant gift edition, showcases his dramatic entrance into the world of poetry.Hardcover gift edition with dust jacket.Gold-gilded page edges.Premium acid-free archival-quality paper.Compact volume is designed for both portability and longevity.A classic for the home or office library.Book measures 4-1/2'' wide x 7-1/2'' high.176 pages.Walt Whitman (1819-1892) was a poet, journalist, and essayist from New York. Considered by many to be the father of contemporary American poetry, he popularized the use of free verse in his seminal work, Leaves of Grass. His poetry, though controversial during his lifetime, is now revered for its explorations of freedom, the natural world, and the human body. Whitman's belief of poetry remains as true today as it was when he was alive: that ''to have great poets, there must be great audiences.''