Walt Whitman

Walter Whitman was a writer, poet, and humanist. His approach to historical realism, transcendentalism, mastery of free verse, and dedication to the truth is what he is most widely known for. Though it is actually a collection of books, Whitman is most remembered for “Leaves of Grass.” He spent the majority of his life modifying and expanding it, publishing multiple editions of it until his passing.

His inspiration  came from a combination of sources, including his adulation for Ralph Waldo Emerson and his travels through the American territory. There were nine different editions published during Whitman’s lifetime, each with unique strengths and weaknesses.