Whitman: A Study

Burroughs, John, 1837-1921Project Gutenberg · United StatesDec 2019

3.5

Word count: 382K words
Chapters: 39

Summary

Project Gutenberg was the first provider of free electronic books, or eBooks. Michael Hart, founder of Project Gutenberg, invented eBooks in 1971 and his memory continues to inspire the creation of eBooks and related technologies today.Whitman: A Study by John BurroughsAuthor: Burroughs, John, 1837-1921,Language: English, Class: PS: Language and Literatures: American and Canadian literature, Release Date: Oct 27, 2009

Editor's review

This volume, Whitman: A Study, is John Burroughs's collection of essays on Whitman the man and his poetry, and one of the important early documents in Whitman studies. Burroughs was himself a nature writer and a personal acquaintance of Whitman, so the book offers both a careful analysis of the poetic texture and intellectual character of Leaves of Grass and the close-up observations of a contemporary, making it valuable for understanding the nineteenth-century American literary scene. Because it was written early, its views bear the clear stamp of their era, and some judgments may not meet today's scholarly standards; precisely for that reason, it also serves as primary material for tracing Whitman's reception history. For the general reader this is not an introductory guide; it is better suited to extended reading after one has read selections from Leaves of Grass, to appreciate the perspective of a contemporary critic. This electronic edition is the public-domain English original, suitable for literary enthusiasts and researchers with a reasonable command of English.

Who it's for

A good fit for

Literary enthusiasts who have read some poems from Leaves of Grass and wish to learn about early criticism
University students and researchers working on American literary history or the reception history of Whitman
English-language readers who enjoy nature writing and are interested in Burroughs's work
Advanced learners who wish to train their literary reading skills with English originals

Not a good fit for

Complete beginners who know nothing about Whitman and need an introductory guide
General readers who struggle with English and would prefer a Chinese translation
Readers expecting a systematic scholarly survey or contemporary critical theory

Reading tips

Read selected famous poems from Leaves of Grass first, then turn to this book so as to compare the criticism against the poems.
While reading, note Burroughs's position as a contemporary and distinguish period prejudice from valid observation.
Read alongside biographical material on Whitman to fill in the life background not covered in the book.
For the English original, read one chapter at a time and take brief notes on points open to debate.

About the publisher

Project Gutenberg United States · Founded in 1971

Project Gutenberg is a digital publishing project focused on public-domain ebooks. Its publishing direction centers on classic literary works whose copyright has expired, covering genres such as poetry, drama, fiction, and epic. Representative books include Lyrical Ballads by Wordsworth and Coleridge, Proust's Du côté de chez Swann, Shakespeare's Macbeth and The Complete Works of William Shakespeare, Homer's The Iliad, Dante's La Divina Comèdia: Purgatòri, Cervantes's The History of Don Quixote, Volume 2, and Grahame's The Wind in the Willows. Its author resources consist mainly of classic Western writers such as Wordsworth, Proust, Shakespeare, Homer, Dante, Cervantes, Grahame, and Tolstoy. Its publishing feature is the provision of freely accessible ebooks in EPUB and Kindle formats; it is not a traditional publisher, and publicly available information is limited.

FAQ

Is this book suitable as an introduction to Whitman?

Not really. It is a critical work rather than a biographical introduction and assumes the reader has some basic acquaintance with Whitman's poetry. If you have not yet read Leaves of Grass, it is better to begin with selected poems or an introductory biography and then return to this book, which will be more rewarding.

Do the views in the book still hold up today?

The book was written early and carries the coloring of nineteenth-century criticism; some of its judgments differ from current scholarly views. Its value lies more in presenting a contemporary perspective on reception, and it is best read as material for literary history rather than as settled contemporary scholarship.

What should I keep in mind when reading the electronic edition?

This is an electronic edition of the public-domain English original, with no Chinese parallel text or detailed notes. It is advisable to have a dictionary at hand for nineteenth-century usages and allusions, and to note that the formatting may be plain, so you should plan your own reading pace.

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About the author

Burroughs, John, 1837-1921 Author

John Burroughs (1837-1921) was an American nature writer. A lifelong observer of rural plants, birds, and animals, he recorded the changing seasons and his experiences in the field in essays and sketches. His style is plain and delicate, combining the accuracy of natural history with literary readability. The library holds 25 of his works, including Wake-Robin, A Year in the Fields, Riverby, Ways of Nature, Fresh Fields, Birds and Bees, Sharp Eyes, and Other Papers, and Camping with President Roosevelt. These works mostly concern birds, insects, country life, and nature observation. He often begins with ordinary natural scenes and blends personal experience with reflection on nature, in language that is simple yet warm. His writing has influenced later nature essays and ecological writing. Public information on his education, posts, and specific experiences is limited, so no speculation is offered here.