Author Description

"Walt Whitman (1819-92) approached his poetic career with high expectations. He dared to hope that he might become the poet of America. For many years the reception was cool enough to shake even Whitman's boundless optimism. But the twentieth century has justified him. We now recognize Whitman not only as a major writer, but as unique among American poets for his innovativeness, for his influence on world literature, and for the fullness with which he expressed American values."--Lawrence Buell, from the introduction. Donated by Prabu Vasan.