From Leaves of Grass to Song of Myself, all of Whitman s poetry in one volumeIn 1855 Walt Whitman published Leaves of Grass, the work that defined him as one of America s most influential voices and that he added to throughout his life. A collection of astonishing originality and intensity, it spoke of politics, sexual emancipation, and what it meant to be an American. From the joyful Song of Myself and I Sing the Body Electric to the elegiac When Lilacs Last in the Dooryard Bloom d, Whitman s art fuses oratory, journalism, and song in a vivid celebration of humanity. Containing all Whitman s known poetic work, this edition reprints the final, or deathbed, edition of Leaves of Grass (1891-92). Earlier versions of many poems are also given, including the 1855 Song of Myself. • Features a completely new-and fuller-introduction discussing the development of Whitman s poetic career, his influence on later American poets, and his impact on the American cultural sensibility• Includes chronology, updated suggestions for further reading, and extensive notes