The Famous Authors: Walt Whitman

This video, part of the Famous Authors series, examines the life and work of famous American poet Walt Whitman. Best known for his collection of poetry Leaves of Grass, Whitman dared to experiment early in his career with the boundaries of poetry. He came up with his own rhythmic pattern, giving his poems a musical, lyrical tone. He was also unconventional with the themes of some of his poems, tackling such topics as death, civil rights, philosophy, and spiritualism. In his later life, he suffered a stroke, but continued to lecture, teach, and write. This video captures the world of this acclaimed poet, featuring portraits, photographs, and archival material along with commentary from scholars about Whitman and his work.