Leaves of Grass
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In 1855, Walt Whitman published, at his own expense, the first edition of Leaves of Grass, a visionary volume of twelve poems. Showing the influence of a uniquely American form of mysticism known as Transcendentalism, the writing is distinguished by an explosively innovative free-verse style and previously unmentionable subject matter. Exalting nature, celebrating the human body, and praising the senses and sexual love, this monumental work, now a classic of American poetry, was condemned as immoral upon publication. Included in this edition are some of the greatest poems of modern times, works that continue to upset conventional notions of beauty and originality even today.
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Evidence Confidence
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Evidence Snapshot i
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Supporting sources 10
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Source groups 6
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Networks 15
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Supporting sources 3
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Narrator Experience
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Narrator recognition & background
- LibriVox Community appears on at least 3 other verified audiobook editions in our catalog.
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Reader Themes
How themes are identified
Democracy and collective life, nature and spiritual connection, and embodiment and sexual candor are the ideas that recur most consistently, adding useful texture beyond the premise itself.
Evidence sources for these themes
Based on themes repeated across 67 independent discussions and 15 source networks.
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Our Take
Leaves of Grass rewards an unhurried, curious approach. Its appeal lies in Whitman’s willingness to make the personal universal, moving between the body, the natural world, public life, and spiritual wonder with exuberant confidence. Readers may find the language liberating and visionary, while others may experience its scale and declarations as overwhelming or bombastic. The work-level case is persuasive; evidence about this specific LibriVox performance remains too thin for a firm performance judgment.
See what supports this take →Runtime & Edition Details
- Runtime
- 19h 21m
- Format
- Audiobook
- Language
- en
Why You Can Trust This Recommendation
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167 evidence records remain in the research set behind this page after filtering and deduplication.
FAQ
Is this a good audiobook for studying Whitman?
It can be useful for study because the collection’s major concerns include free verse, democracy, nature, embodiment, individuality, and spiritual connection. Keep a text edition nearby if you plan to examine lineation or compare versions, since Leaves of Grass changed substantially across Whitman’s lifetime.
Can I listen to it in short sessions?
Yes. The collection is well suited to sampling individual poems or sections and returning later, especially if extended free verse is easier to absorb in smaller portions.
Does it contain mature material?
Yes. Descriptions and commentary specifically identify frank celebration of the body, sexuality, and sensual experience as important parts of the collection.
Is the narrator’s performance reviewed here?
Not reliably for this exact edition. The supplied performance-related material is insufficient to support claims about this recording’s vocal tone, pacing, emotional delivery, or character work.
Ready to experience Leaves of Grass?
Continue to this audiobook’s current verified edition and availability.