Walt Whitman

Walt Whitman was born on May 31, 1819, in Long Island, New York. Raised in a large, working-class family, he left school early to support them. Whitman worked various jobs, including as a printer and journalist, before focusing on writing. His experiences in New York greatly influenced his themes of democracy, individuality, and American spirit.In 1855, Whitman self-published Leaves of Grass, a poetry collection that broke from tradition with free verse and themes of nature and self. Though it received mixed reviews, Ralph Waldo Emerson praised it as a new poetic voice. Whitman continually revised this collection, making it a dynamic work.During the Civil War, Whitman volunteered as a nurse in Washington, D.C., deeply impacting his poetry. Works like Drum-Taps and his Lincoln elegies capture the nation's grief and complexity. Despite personal struggles, Whitman's poetry influenced generations, establishing him as a key figure in American literature.