Leaves of Grass: Select Poems with Introduction by Christopher Morley, Illustrations by Lewis C. Daniel [B1858]

1940 HC Doubleday edition with a burlap cover, minor wear, and a missing slipcase (see all 3 photos). Per the Introduction to this collectible and wonderfully illustrated, abridged edition (with 61 of the 400 poems in the 1855 original): "At least there are here contained as many of the poems, both spiritual and carnal, as one is likely to need handy in pantry and icebox against unexpected guests of emotion."

From a description of an unabridged version: "Leaves of Grass is a poetry collection by American poet Walt Whitman (1819-1892). Though it was first published in 1855, Whitman spent most of his professional life writing and rewriting Leaves of Grass, revising it multiple times until his death. There were multiple versions of this work, each with different poems--the first edition being a small book of twelve poems, and the last, a compilation of over 400. The collection represents the celebration of his philosophy of life and humanity and praises nature and the individual human's role in it. Rather than focusing on religious or spiritual matters, Leaves of Grass focuses primarily on the body and the material world. With few exceptions, its poems do not rhyme or follow standard rules for meter and line length. Leaves of Grass is also notable for its discussion of delight in sensual pleasures during a time when such candid displays were considered immoral. The book was highly controversial during its time for its explicit sexual imagery, and Whitman was subject to derision by many contemporary critics. Over time, however, the collection has infiltrated popular culture and became recognized as one of the central works of American poetry."

From Amazon/GoodReads reviews: "This collection is so joyful and exuberant and you can feel Walt Whitman as he stretches to grasp a full and entirely inclusive sense of America in his poetry."; "How did I make it this far in my quest to read the classics without realizing that Walt Whitman absolutely rules? A great citizen extending love to all citizens regardless of religion, color, socioeconomic status or creed and absolutely gay as all hell, a true icon of Americana. When I die please remember me by this stanza [from Song of Myself]: 'I bequeath myself to the dirt to grow from the grass I love, If you want me again look for me under your boot-soles' "; "This is a classic and contains my favorite poem of all time, or at least the one I relate to most: 'Sing the Body Electric' [included in this edition]."; "When I was reading Leaves of Grass I kept thinking that I would have liked to meet Walt Whitman, for he certainly was an extraordinary personality for his time and for any time and a revolutionary in both poetry and his world outlook. The word which comes first to mind to describe Whitman's poetry in general is 'energy' because it is charged with sheer endless energy and deep passion."