Song of Ourselves: Walt Whitman and the Fight for Democracy by Mark Edmundson (E

Description: Song of Ourselves by Mark Edmundson Mark Edmundson finds in Walt Whitmans Song of Myself the evolution of a democratic spirit, for the individual and the nation. Breaking from the past literature he saw as "feudal"—obsessed with the noble and great—Whitman created a story of commonplace egalitarian selfhood, a story he lived as a hospital volunteer during the Civil War. FORMAT Hardcover LANGUAGE English CONDITION Brand New Publisher Description In the midst of a crisis of democracy, we have much to learn from Walt Whitmans journey toward egalitarian selfhood.Walt Whitman knew a great deal about democracy that we dont. Most of that knowledge is concentrated in one stunning poem, Song of Myself.Esteemed cultural and literary thinker Mark Edmundson offers a bold reading of the 1855 poem, included here in its entirety. He finds in the poem the genesis and development of a democratic spirit, for the individual and the nation. Whitman broke from past literature that he saw as "feudal": obsessed with the noble and great. He wanted instead to celebrate the common and everyday. Song of Myself does this, setting the terms for democratic identity and culture in America. The work captures the drama of becoming an egalitarian individual, as the poet ascends to knowledge and happiness by confronting and overcoming the major obstacles to democratic selfhood. In the course of his journey, the poet addresses God and Jesus, body and soul, the love of kings, the fear of the poor, and the fear of death. The poets consciousness enlarges; he can see more, comprehend more, and he has more to teach.In Edmundsons account, Whitmans great poem does not end with its last line. Seven years after the poem was published, Whitman went to work in hospitals, where he attended to the Civil Wars wounded, sick, and dying. He thus became in life the democratic individual he had prophesied in art. Even now, that prophecy gives us words, thoughts, and feelings to feed the democratic spirit of self and nation. Author Biography Mark Edmundson is University Professor and Professor of English at the University of Virginia. A Guggenheim fellow, he is author of more than a dozen books, including Self and Soul, Why Teach? and Nightmare on Main Street. Review What better way to imbibe the intoxicating stanzas of Walt Whitmans Song of Myself than in the company of Mark Edmundson, author of the brilliantly argued Why Read? In Song of Ourselves Edmundson explicates and amplifies Whitmans great wake-up call with an exuberant tenderness reached through decades of study and teaching. Here you will find our American ur-text, Whitmans irreverent bible of New World democracy, revealed. -- Megan Marshall, author of the Pulitzer Prize–winning Margaret Fuller: A New American Life and Elizabeth Bishop: A Miracle for BreakfastAccessible, conversational, thoughtful, and eloquent, Edmundson has found his wonderfully distinctive and compelling voice in a book that is fascinated by democracy, fellow-feeling, sympathy, imagination, tyranny, and hierarchy. Song of Ourselves is one of the great books about literature, partly because it is about so much more than literature. -- Adam Phillips, author of On Wanting to ChangeThere could be no better time than the present for Mark Edmundsons tribute and guide to Walt Whitman. Song of Ourselves is a stirring and worthy evocation of the great poet of American democracy. Edmundson inhabits Whitman. Edmundson is Whitmans companion, as Whitman is ours through all of our vexations, taking stock of multitudes still to come. -- Todd Gitlin, author of The Sixties: Years of Hope, Days of RageWhat of Walt can we use? Mark Edmundson asks urgently in Song of Ourselves. This lyrical, forthright, and intimate book pays tribute to Whitman in a thoroughly Whitmanian spirit, guiding us through a revelatory reading of Song of Myself and the poems fulfillment in Whitmans experience of tending wounded soldiers in Civil War hospitals. Edmundson has composed a learned and unpretentious hymn to democracy and its greatest American bard. -- Rosanna Warren, author of Max Jacob: A Life in Art and LettersMark Edmundsons portrait of Walt Whitman proves that our greatest poet is also an essential spiritual guide for twenty-first-century America. With his moving account of Whitmans visiting the Civil War wounded, as well as his reading of Song of Myself, Edmundson makes a resounding case for the humane, democratic sympathy we now need so much. -- David Mikics, author of Slow Reading in a Hurried Age and editor of The Annotated EmersonWhitman was a great sage, a wise man, a mage, but he would have been happier with a simpler term. Perhaps just a friend, someone who might take your hand and point out the path. And that is exactly what Mark Edmundson does in this ecstatic book: he gives us a visionary glimpse of Whitmans own vision. Song of Ourselves is a book about why we need to read Whitman now, by a writer as large-souled as his subject. -- Michael Gorra, author of The Saddest Words: William Faulkners Civil WarSong of Myself is a challenging poem to describe, let alone interpret. Edmundson does both masterfully…The style is welcoming and informal, his wide-ranging parenthetical references (to Plato, Freud, Derrida, etc.) make the experience of reading the book more like dropping into his classroom. Like many of the best teachers, Edmundson radiates enthusiasm for his subject. -- Ian Beacock * New Republic *For fans of Walt Whitmans poetry or any reader interested in how this father of American poetry continues to shape our understanding of democracy…A beautiful and thorough introduction to and examination of Americas most important poet. * Portland Book Review * Review Quote What of Walt can we use? Mark Edmundson asks urgently in Song of Ourselves . This lyrical, forthright, and intimate book pays tribute to Whitman in a thoroughly Whitmanian spirit, guiding us through a revelatory reading of Song of Myself and the poems fulfillment in Whitmans experience of tending wounded soldiers in Civil War hospitals. Edmundson has composed a learned and unpretentious hymn to democracy and its greatest American bard. Details ISBN0674237161 Author Mark Edmundson Short Title Song of Ourselves Publisher Harvard University Press Language English Year 2021 ISBN-10 0674237161 ISBN-13 9780674237162 Format Hardcover Subtitle Walt Whitman and the Fight for Democracy Pages 240 Imprint Harvard University Press Place of Publication Cambridge, Mass Country of Publication United States Illustrations 1 photo NZ Release Date 2021-04-13 UK Release Date 2021-04-13 DEWEY 811.3 Audience Professional & Vocational AU Release Date 2021-04-12 Publication Date 2021-04-13 US Release Date 2021-04-13 We've got this At The Nile, if you're looking for it, we've got it. With fast shipping, low prices, friendly service and well over a million items - you're bound to find what you want, at a price you'll love! TheNile_Item_ID:132573597;

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