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Celebrating Walt Whitman and 'Leaves of Grass'

By Lynn Neary

Talk of the Nation, July 4, 2005 · On July 4, 1855, a book of poetry by an unknown by the name of Walt Whitman came out to mixed reviews and widespread disinterest. Eventually, it changed the way poets thought... and sang... of themselves. Lynn Neary leads a discussion on Leaves of Grass.

Guests:

Ed Folsom, professor of English at the University of Iowa; editor of the Walt Whitman Quarterly Review; co-director of the online Walt Whitman Archive, the most comprehensive Web-based collection of Whitman's writings and biographical information; author of Rescripting Walt Whitman.

Ed Centeno, collector of Walt Whitman memorabilia.

Michael Cunningham, author of several books, including The Hours. His most recent book is Specimen Days, loosely based on the poems of Walt Whitman.

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