Walt Whitman

Author: (American) Greenspan
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2000-12-01
Features: This book is part of the "Cambridge Literary Guides" series. As a collection of essays commemorating the 100th anniversary of Whitman's death, it reflects the new research of contemporary Western literary critics on the life and works of this American. The authors are professors and scholars from various countries in Europe and America, who interpret this highly influential yet controversial poet and his works from a contemporary perspective. The discussions cover topics such as the American Civil War, feminism, modernism, photography, dance, and the changes in the poet's late poetic style. Some essays examine the poet's creative activities during the American Civil War, particularly the influence of his brother who served in the war on his writing and emotions. Others revisit the treatment of women in Leaves of Grass and analyze the work from a feminist perspective. Some explore the impact of mid-19th-century American social and political movements on the poet. Others trace the intellectual framework of Whitman's close relationship with non-print media, analyzing the poet's lifelong passion for photography and his experiments with new techniques in book design. Some review the poet's influence on modern people, while others discuss the relationship between Whitman and modern dance. Finally, some examine the poet's impact on 1950s Latin American literature.