Leaves of Grass (Signet Classics)[草叶集]

RalphWaldoEmersonissuedacallforagreatpoettocaptureandimmortalizetheuniqueAmericanexperience.In1855,ananswercamewithLeavesofGrass.Today,thismasterfulcollectionremainsnotonlyaseminaleventinAmericanliteraturebutalsotheincomparableachievementofoneofAmerica’sgreatestpoets?anexuberant,passionatemanwholovedhiscountryandwroteofitasnootherhaseverdone.WaltWhitmanwasasinger,thinker,visionary,andcitizenextraordinaire.ThoreaucalledWhitman?probablythegreatestdemocratthateverlived,"andEmersonjudgedLeavesofGrassas?themostextraordinarypieceofwitandwisdomAmericahasyetcontributed."Thetextpresentedhereisthatofthe?Deathbed"ornintheditionofLeavesofGrass,publishedin1892.ThecontentandgroupingofpoemsistheversionauthorizedbyWhitmanhimselfforthefinalandcompleteeditionofhismasterpiece.WithaforewordbyBillyCollins,anafterwordbyPeterDavison,andanewintroductionbyElisabethPanttajaBrink.《草叶集》是十九世纪美国作家惠特曼的浪漫主义诗集，它奠定了美国诗歌的基础，并对美国及其他国家的诗歌艺术产生了相当大的影响。这本诗集记录了诗人一生的思想和探索历程，也反映出时代和国家的面貌。诗集取自其中这样一句诗：“这便是在有土有水的地方所长出来的青草。”草叶是最普通、最有生命力的东西，象征着当时正在蓬勃发展的美国。诗集通过“自我”感受和“自我”形象，热情歌颂了资本主义上升时期的美国。