Leaves of Grass (Leather-bound Classics)

I am very happy that inexpensive versions of Leaves of Grass are available again. I have purchased eight different versions to compare. Many are very poorly put together - almost like scanned versions simply plopped into a word processor and uploaded to Amazon - and selling for $10 - $1. What I find most fascinating is this one - by Martino Fine Books (listed as Leaves of Grass ; {exact Facsimile of the 1855 Edition] - it is very fine, and is an exact facsimile. I love holding it and looking at it as close to the original 1855 edition as humanly possible. The only caveat is the cover - which features the older Walt, who had published six more versions by the time the cover photo was taken. No matter, the inside is what's important. Another one I bought that I recommend is from cholla needles press (listed as Leaves of Grass: 1855) - they use a facsimile of the original cover, and have made the choice to clean up the line breaks for readability purposes. The cholla edition is easy to sit down and read, the martino edition is beautiful to look at. The good news is I bought them both for less than $10 and find that reasonable enough to give them both to friends and relatives as gifts this year.

This review is only for the Wisehouse Classics edition. There are a number of typographical errors within the book. For instance, the word "of" is exchanged for the word "or" a number of times in "Song of Myself," altering the meaning of certain lines significantly.It's extremely unfortunate that Amazon has combined the reviews for so many different editions of this and other books. While they may sell more books, it makes it very difficult for customers to find a good edition to buy, and it makes me much less likely to buy from Amazon in the future.

Whitman’s rambling and disordered jottings mark him out as a droning egotist, bursting with a belief in his own superiority. He presents himself as a prophet or ‘seer”, a complete humanist who wishes to dispose of God and elevate the self- or himself- to Godlike status. Hence he comes out with “I myself am good fortune’, “I am as good as the best” or I celebrate myself”. Nowadays we recognize people like this as narcissists.This sweeping arrogance extends to his ‘free verse” in which he ignores all pre-existing conventions of style, even grammar and replaces it with a sort of overly contrived disorder. By creating sensation and appearing to correct conventional wisdom, he attempts to establish himself as some kind of visionary.He uses made-up words like “elderhand” or ‘fatherstuff” to serve as motifs for his new secular religion- a worship of the self and of nature. He also makes frequent attacks on scriptural concepts and tries to up-end biblical laws. Yet for an atheist, he is strangely obsessed with God.The overall effect of this self-absorbed diatribe is rather tedious. His language lacks charm and beauty, and basically amounts to yet another 1800’s assault on Christianity.

Walt Whitman… I like to call him my lova from anotha era. I relate so much to his writing. After I read this I bought a 40 inch photo of the man and got it framed and he is now hanging up in my bedroom as a reminder to stay in the NOW, there is no better time than NOW. I also bought a necklace after I read it that has the quote, “I celebrate myself and sing myself.” ADDITIONALLY I got this cool print of a skull with flowers bursting out of it on wood that has a quote of his on it that reads, “I have died myself ten thousand times before.” There are countless quotes of his that are amazing to me. This book was such an influential force in my life. I need to read all the editions at some point.

I fell in love with the transcendentalist movement in highschool, and I wanted to reread my favorite books. Leaves of Grass is a beautiful tome, Walt Whitman is a premiere poet, and his original work is well represented by this book. It was a great price, it looks nice, and the typeset is perfect. I am excited to relive the experience of reading this collection!

This is a *profoundly* beautiful collection of poems. Never read it when I was in school or college, and I was curious. There is something on each page which makes something deep within our souls sound out with a resounding, “YES!”

I ordered a copy of "Leaves of Grass" because in the past I've written about the inspiration of Nature, and I've started writing about it again. I like the feeling of continuity of inspiration I've gained from Walt Whitman. I'll admit the ignorance most Americans have of the richness of our traditions is a great disappointment, but I'm about to try to wake up a few more of us!

still waiting to use it, it appears well built. Follow up later

Lovely book, used this for my english coursework and it was an enjoyable read. Whitman really encapsulates what it meant to be a common American man in his era and it makes sense why his influence is still prevalent in modern day America (Lana Del Rey). Hope his legacy lives on for he really is one of America's greatest poets. His free verse style allows the reader to be taken to wherever his mind wanders to, really great stuff.In terms of the book itself, its very good quality and well worth the money.

I haven't read this slowly for years and years. Lots of re-reading and much quiet thought. A remarkable man, not easy, very challenging but well worth the effort. Takes the reader away from our consumer culture to something very profound, the transcendence of the self. Whitman tells you to carefully examine all that you have been told and to dismiss what insults your soul. Lots of thinking and reflecting needed.

I bought this book because it kept being referenced in a novel I recently read. The poems are the work of a very intelligent man. They made me slow my reading down to enable me to absorb what I was reading. Beautiful words that have stood the test of time.

A beautiful little book, it is hardback and covered in book binder's cloth, I love it ..... lovely to hold and to look at, and the contents inside are just a beautiful .. .I bought this as I was reading another book, "The Circling of the Sun" by Paula McCain and this is the book which Denys Finch Hatton gave to Beryl Markham when they first met, and which poems he rad to her, over 100 years ago ....

Really important body of poetry. Everyone should have a copy. For me ebooks versions such as Kindle are the preferred format for me. it allows reader to make notes which is very important.