Leaves of grass / Walt Whitman ; with and introduction and notes by Karen Karbiener ; George Stade, consulting editorial director.

"Additional poems."

World of Walt Whitman and leaves of grass -- Introduction / Karen Karbiener -- Leaves of grass: First edition, 1855 -- Leaves of grass: "Death-bed" edition, 1891-1892 -- Additional poems -- Endnotes -- Publication information -- Inspired by leaves of grass -- Comments & questions -- Further reading -- Index of titles and first lines.

Whitman employs the cadence of simple, even idiomatic speech to "sing" national identity. Throughout his prolific career, Whitman continually revised and expanded Leaves of Grass, which went through nine editions. This volume include the first edition, the final, authorized "Death-Bed" edition, and selections of the best poems from preceding editions and other sources. Annotation. Whitman employs the cadence of simple, even idiomatic speech to "sing" national identity. Throughout his prolific career, Whitman continually revised and expanded Leaves of Grass, which went through nine editions. This volume include the first edition, the final, authorized "Death-Bed" edition, and selections of the best poems from preceding editions and other sources. Annotation. Whitman employs the cadence of simple, even idiomatic speech to "sing" national identity and destiny, philosophy and spiritualism, and frank autobiography. Throughout his prolific writing career, Whitman continually revised and expanded Leaves of Grass--which went through nine editions! This volume is the first to include the first edition, and the final, authorized "death-bed" edition, as well as a deft selection of poems which were eventually omitted.