Penulis: Thomas Biggs Harned

Walt Whitman (1819-1892) is one of the most influential and innovative poets in the American literary canon. Born on Long Island, Whitman worked in a variety of professions before fully dedicating himself to writing. Whitman”s magnum opus, “Leaves of Grass”, first published in 1855, was groundbreaking in both its content and form, and it was continually revised and expanded in subsequent editions throughout his life. His work was characterized by its free verse style, a departure from the rigid rhyme and meter of his contemporaries, and its exploration of the self and the transcendental link between humanity and nature. Whitman”s poetry was daring in its candid discussions on sexuality, the human body, and the collective American identity. Notoriously known for his celebration of democracy and egalitarianism, Whitman”s work resonates with core American values and the spirit of its people. “The Letters of Anne Gilchrist and Walt Whitman” offers an intimate look at Whitman as a person, through his correspondence with Gilchrist, an Englishwoman who became an ardent admirer of Whitman”s work and eventually his close friend. These letters shed light not only on the poet”s own thoughts and feelings but also on the literary circles and societal norms of the period. Whitman”s lasting legacy is as much tied to his robust, sensuous literary voice as it is to his embodiment of the democratic ideal, earning him the moniker “America”s Bard”.