1819-1892

Biography

A passionate believer in the ideals of democracy, Walt Whitman first published his life’s great work, the American epic Leaves of Grass, in 1855, at his own expense, but he continued to work on it until his death four decades later. Attacked as obscene for its frank celebration of sexuality, Leaves of Grass inspired generations of free verse poets, including the Beat writer Allen Ginsberg.

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