Walt Whitman (Voices in Poetry)

Nancy Loewen

ISBN 10: 0152009191 ISBN 13: 9780152009199

Publisher: Creative Co (Sd), 1994

Synopsis

Examines the life of the American poet and presents some of his poems.

About this title

From School Library Journal

Grade 5 Up-In this combination of poetry, history, and photography, a dozen selections from Whitman's Leaves of Grass are juxtaposed with brief biographical vignettes. Loewen's text provides a framework for the poetry, which assumes center stage. Each bit of information is set apart by a simple heading that denotes a specific period of the poet's life, e.g., "Childhood," "Education," "Publisher," "Emergence," and "Civil War." Oversized, sepia-toned photographs and reproductions provide visual clues to the experiences that shaped the man. Each poem is artfully positioned (its place in the cycle of Leaves of Grass is noted) and accompanied by a full-color photograph of a leaf or leaves. As readers follow the course of Whitman's life, the foliage evokes images of the bright sunlight and fresh green of spring through the russets and browns of autumn. A carefully crafted volume whose majestic poems, intelligent text, and period illustrations have timeless and ageless appeal.
Joanne Kelleher, Commack Public Library, NY
Copyright 1994 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Publishers Weekly

In this tribute to the great American poet, a segmented biography framed by sepia-toned reproductions of period photos and engravings alternates with selections from Whitman's writing. Manipulated photos of leaves and plenty of white space, for example, surround verse from Leaves of Grass , most quite brief, and several prose passages. The selections roughly parallel the biography: "There Was a Child Went Forth," for example, follows the paragraph on his childhood. Other oft-quoted pieces, such as "When I Heard the Learn'd Astronomer," also appear. But any reader familiar with Whitman will find much omitted. Length may be only one reason. As the author says, Whitman's "frank celebration of sensuality shocked many of his contemporaries," and she does not include any of his more earthy passages, perhaps not wanting to shock her own readers. The book's sophisticated appearance is not matched by its content. Ages 12-up.
Copyright 1994 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Edition details

• Publisher: Creative Co (Sd)
• Publication date: 1994
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 0152009191
• ISBN 13: 9780152009199
• Binding: Library Binding
• Illustrator: Rob Day