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Song of Myself
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Manufacturer: Digireads.com
Author: Walt Whitman
Publisher: Digireads.com
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Our Price: $4.99
You Save: $ ( % )
Usually ships in 24 hours
Manufacturer: Digireads.com
Author: Walt Whitman
Publisher: Digireads.com
Average Customer Rating:
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Song of Myself Description
Binding: Paperback
Dewey Decimal Number: 809
EAN: 9781420927061
ISBN: 142092706X
Label: Digireads.com
Manufacturer: Digireads.com
Number Of Items: 1
Book Pages: 80
Publication Date: 2006-01-01
Publisher: Digireads.com
Studio: Digireads.com
Dewey Decimal Number: 809
EAN: 9781420927061
ISBN: 142092706X
Label: Digireads.com
Manufacturer: Digireads.com
Number Of Items: 1
Book Pages: 80
Publication Date: 2006-01-01
Publisher: Digireads.com
Studio: Digireads.com
Editorial Review of Song of Myself
One of Walt Whitman's most loved and greatest poems, "Song of Myself" is an optimistic and inspirational look at the world. Originally published as part of "Leaves of Grass" in 1855, "Song of Myself" is as accessible and important today as when it was first written. Read "Song of Myself" and enjoy a true poetic masterpiece.
Customer Reviews of Song of Myself
Customer Rating:
Review Summary: The book, remakable, the reviews? I am confused.
Review: Special preview note:
I have to say these reviews confuse me because I see nothing about Stephen Mitchell in the book I hold in my hands. I don't know where the reference comes from at all, so I am going to write as if I don't know what the reviewers are using as a reference to Mitchell... and now I see, those reviewers were reading an entirely different version of the book - so if you are interested in the Dover edition, my review stands. If you are looking at the Shambala edition, what I say still stands, for the most part... except I haven't read the Mitchell edits and now I understand some of the disdain! And it makes me VERY curious, would like to read both versions side-by-side.)
From the preface: This dover edition, first published in 2001, is a unabridged republication from the first 1855 edition of "Leaves of Grass."
I sat here, today, re-reading some of the sections I had highlighted from my first read of this epic-length-poem. I wondered, "What would the world be like if each of us took the time to write a 'Song of Myself' according to our own witness of the world we live within?
Walt Whitman does exactly that in this poem - he doesn't seek to be understood, he doesn't seek to please the reader, he is simply being present to his world and then capture his meandering path into words and serve it onto the page.
Then it is up to us, as the readers, to take our spoon-fuls of Whitman and savor each one.
There is much to be learned, experienced, enjoyed, discovered in these words within this very slim volume. Savor each one and consider writing your own song.
Now I am off to begin mine.
Customer Rating:
Review Summary: Possibly the greatest American poem
Review: I always have this book in my travel bag. Hiking the John Muir trail - perfect. A cafe in Budapest - perfect. The Shinkansen train in Japan - perfect. A hammock in Costa Rica - perfect. It's tiny, beautiful, and invigorating - it reminds me of why I/we live. It's learned and raw and revealing and divine; it articulates the sorrow and glory of being human.
In my opinion, like the Bible, it is a book everyone should read once.
Mitchell did take some liberties by collating different versions of Whitman's work, but keep in mind that Walt re-wrote this poem time and time again. I have read probably a dozen versions of this peom and this is no less valuable than any of the others. Mitchell has fine taste and all the words are Walt's, and Mitchell adequately explains his reasoning in the preface. So, in contrast to what some of the other reviewers have written: If you're going to read this poem only once, Mitchell has presented a great version here.
Customer Rating:
Review Summary: costly
Review: this book is only 1.50 if you buy it in a store, its not worth the shipping and handeling
Customer Rating:
Review Summary: The Only Poem - Whitman's
Review: This is the only poem. You can read it in all seasons, preferably aloud. You can read it even if you don't understand it. You can even put it down and step on it and throw it somewhere. When you do read it aloud, the memory of this experience will stick with you, as well as the people in your life associated with the experience. The climate at the time remains, the natural circumstances (you were outside, right?). Vignettes in which you thought of the book remain. Immortal.
Customer Rating:
Review Summary: Whitman Audio - Read by Orson Welles
Review: Walt Whitman may have recorded one short poem on an Edison cylinder before his death in 1892. This recording presents Orson Welles reciting significant passages from the long poem "Song of Myself." In an earlier version, the poem announced Whitman's emergence as a poet--offering, in the body of the poem, the first announcement of the name of the maker of this new, fertile book.
The performance is an interesting auxilliary to a reading of the poem. Sections 1, 2, 3, 6, 7, 10, 14, 15, 21, 24, 26, 27, 28, 31, (33), 46, 48, 51, and 52 are presented. Those who find Welles' voice pleasing will enjoy the performance for certain. It raises some of the familiar questions of melodrama etc. common when actors record poetry. Still, without a significant "authorial" performance to prefer, this is quite wonderful to hear.
Like the poetry of many, Whitman's is certainly composed for reading aloud and auditing. As we have largely lost this tradition (outside of the poetry slam), Orson Welles provides a useful instance of what it means to "sound" the text.
Review Summary: The book, remakable, the reviews? I am confused.
Review: Special preview note:
I have to say these reviews confuse me because I see nothing about Stephen Mitchell in the book I hold in my hands. I don't know where the reference comes from at all, so I am going to write as if I don't know what the reviewers are using as a reference to Mitchell... and now I see, those reviewers were reading an entirely different version of the book - so if you are interested in the Dover edition, my review stands. If you are looking at the Shambala edition, what I say still stands, for the most part... except I haven't read the Mitchell edits and now I understand some of the disdain! And it makes me VERY curious, would like to read both versions side-by-side.)
From the preface: This dover edition, first published in 2001, is a unabridged republication from the first 1855 edition of "Leaves of Grass."
I sat here, today, re-reading some of the sections I had highlighted from my first read of this epic-length-poem. I wondered, "What would the world be like if each of us took the time to write a 'Song of Myself' according to our own witness of the world we live within?
Walt Whitman does exactly that in this poem - he doesn't seek to be understood, he doesn't seek to please the reader, he is simply being present to his world and then capture his meandering path into words and serve it onto the page.
Then it is up to us, as the readers, to take our spoon-fuls of Whitman and savor each one.
There is much to be learned, experienced, enjoyed, discovered in these words within this very slim volume. Savor each one and consider writing your own song.
Now I am off to begin mine.
Customer Rating:
Review Summary: Possibly the greatest American poem
Review: I always have this book in my travel bag. Hiking the John Muir trail - perfect. A cafe in Budapest - perfect. The Shinkansen train in Japan - perfect. A hammock in Costa Rica - perfect. It's tiny, beautiful, and invigorating - it reminds me of why I/we live. It's learned and raw and revealing and divine; it articulates the sorrow and glory of being human.
In my opinion, like the Bible, it is a book everyone should read once.
Mitchell did take some liberties by collating different versions of Whitman's work, but keep in mind that Walt re-wrote this poem time and time again. I have read probably a dozen versions of this peom and this is no less valuable than any of the others. Mitchell has fine taste and all the words are Walt's, and Mitchell adequately explains his reasoning in the preface. So, in contrast to what some of the other reviewers have written: If you're going to read this poem only once, Mitchell has presented a great version here.
Customer Rating:
Review Summary: costly
Review: this book is only 1.50 if you buy it in a store, its not worth the shipping and handeling
Customer Rating:
Review Summary: The Only Poem - Whitman's
Review: This is the only poem. You can read it in all seasons, preferably aloud. You can read it even if you don't understand it. You can even put it down and step on it and throw it somewhere. When you do read it aloud, the memory of this experience will stick with you, as well as the people in your life associated with the experience. The climate at the time remains, the natural circumstances (you were outside, right?). Vignettes in which you thought of the book remain. Immortal.
Customer Rating:
Review Summary: Whitman Audio - Read by Orson Welles
Review: Walt Whitman may have recorded one short poem on an Edison cylinder before his death in 1892. This recording presents Orson Welles reciting significant passages from the long poem "Song of Myself." In an earlier version, the poem announced Whitman's emergence as a poet--offering, in the body of the poem, the first announcement of the name of the maker of this new, fertile book.
The performance is an interesting auxilliary to a reading of the poem. Sections 1, 2, 3, 6, 7, 10, 14, 15, 21, 24, 26, 27, 28, 31, (33), 46, 48, 51, and 52 are presented. Those who find Welles' voice pleasing will enjoy the performance for certain. It raises some of the familiar questions of melodrama etc. common when actors record poetry. Still, without a significant "authorial" performance to prefer, this is quite wonderful to hear.
Like the poetry of many, Whitman's is certainly composed for reading aloud and auditing. As we have largely lost this tradition (outside of the poetry slam), Orson Welles provides a useful instance of what it means to "sound" the text.