Whitman, Walt. As a Strong Bird on Pinions Free, and Other Poems. Washington: Walt Whitman, 1872.
The title poem of this collection of seven poems was originally written as a commencement address which Whitman delivered to the graduates of Dartmouth College on June 26, 1872.
Deutsch, Babette, 1895-1982. Walt Whitman, Builder for America. New York: Julian Messner, 1941.
The American poet Babette Deutsch wrote this in-depth biography of Whitman for a young adult audience. This copy bears her signed presentation inscription.
Dacey, Philip. Gerard Manley Hopkins Meets Walt Whitman in Heaven and Other Poems. Great Barrington: Penmaen Press, 1982. One of 75 special copies signed by Philip Dacey and the illustrator Michael McCurdy.
In this collection, Philip Dacey presents a poetic biography of the life of the English poet and Jesuit priest Gerard Manley Hopkins. In the lengthy title poem which concludes the volume, Whitman challenges his younger alter ego to accept the world and the flesh. The poem is loosely based on Section 11 of "Song of Myself” and Dacey also references Thomas Eakins' painting "The Swimming Hole.”
Corbett, Elizabeth Frances, 1887-1981. Walt: The Good Gray Poet Speaks for Himself. New York: Frederick A. Stokes Co, 1928.
This rather unorthodox biography of Walt Whitman, written by an author best known for her popular historical fiction, is structured as a series of imagined dialogues. Although her subtitle promises that “the good gray poet speaks for himself,” Corbett freely imagines not only Whitman’s words, but those of his contemporaries, including Edgar Allan Poe and Ralph Waldo Emerson.
The Start of the Road: A Novel. New York: Frederick A. Stokes, 1938.
Erskine, John. The Start of the Road: A Novel. New York: Frederick A. Stokes, 1938.
This curious novel is based on Walt Whitman’s life between the Mexican War through the end of the Civil War. Of particular interest are the scenes set in New Orleans where Whitman served as editor of The Crescent. In New Orleans Whitman witnessed slave auctions and saw first-hand the brutal effects of slavery. Erskine also speculates that Whitman had an intimate relationship with a New Orleans woman and may have even fathered a child.
![Song of Walt Whitman: A Play. [New York]: Poet’s Press, 1975.](https://exhibitions.lib.udel.edu/whitman/wp-content/uploads/sites/39/2019/10/Song-of-Walt-Whitman-A-Play.-New-York-Poets-Press-1975.-e1579105798722.jpg "Song of Walt Whitman: A Play. [New York]: Poet’s Press, 1975.")
Davidson, Richard. Song of Walt Whitman: A Play. [New York]: Poet's Press, 1975.
This verse play by Richard Davidson is set in 1960s America and features a young Walt Whitman reciting his poetry in between scenes of Americans working. The play evokes the spirit of Walt Whitman as champion of the ordinary person. This copy contains the author’s presentation inscription to the playwright Barrie Stavis whose library is held by the University of Delaware.
Whitman, Walt. A Little Book of Nature Thoughts, selected by Anne M. Traubel. Portland, Maine: Thomas B. Mosher, 1906.
The American private press printer Thomas B. Mosher was a great admirer of Walt Whitman and published several volumes of his writings. This collection was compiled by Horace Traubel’s widow, Anne M. Traubel.
Whitman, Walt. Selected Poems. Dublin: New Nation Press, 1907.
This selection of Whitman’s poems was the first title in a series of booklets issued by the fledgling New Nation Press. The book includes an introduction by the Irish poet Padraic Colum. The New Nation Selected Poems is quite scarce because most of the edition was destroyed.
Whitman, Walt. The Poetry and Prose of Walt Whitman: With a Biographical Introduction and a Basic Selection of Early and Recent Critical Commentary edited by Louis Untermeyer. New York: Simon and Schuster, 1949.
This copy contains a presentation inscription from the editor, the poet and anthologist Louis Untermeyer.
Whitman, Walt. Whitman. Harmondsworth, Middlesex, England: Penguin, 1973.
This selection of Whitman’s poems, edited by the American poet Robert Creeley, features Creeley’s long, thoughtful introduction in which he discusses the influence Whitman had on him and other twentieth century poets. Whitman is part of Penguin’s popular “Poet to Poet” series which featured selections from the work of classic British and American poets edited with essays by contemporary poets.
