Minor Prophecy: Walt Whitman's New American ReligionMany of Walt Whitman's earliest readers hailed him as a religious prophet. For them, Leaves of Grass was more than literary art; it was sacred scripture. Recent scholarship has, however, dismissed those early enthusiasts as naive, if not crazy. David Kuebrich's new study of Whitman corrects that academic oversight by giving the early Whitmanites their due as the critics who most clearly perceived the nature and purpose of the poet's labors--to begin a new religion. Kuebrich's thorough, intelligent study, based squarely on textual evidence, offers a revisionist interpretation of America's great poet, returning religious vision and spirituality to the center of Whitman studies. |
From inside the book
Page 229
The Millennium of the Apocalypse . New York : J. & J. Harper , 1832 . A Treatise on the Millennium . New York : 1832 . Channing , William Ellery . Self - Culture : An Address Introductory to the Franklin Lectures .
The Millennium of the Apocalypse . New York : J. & J. Harper , 1832 . A Treatise on the Millennium . New York : 1832 . Channing , William Ellery . Self - Culture : An Address Introductory to the Franklin Lectures .
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Contents
Reconsidering Whitmans Intention | 1 |
A New Religion | 12 |
Interpreting Historys Meaning | 27 |
Copyright | |
8 other sections not shown
Common terms and phrases
activity American appears argued asserts become belief body Calamus Christian church Civil close conceived consciousness continued creation critics culture death democracy democratic describes desire discussion divine earlier early earth edition elements Emerson especially evidence existence experience expression fact faith final freedom future give Grass hand homosexual human ideas immortality indicate influence instance interpretation later Leaves less liberal lines live meaning millennial moral movement mystical nature never night passage perfect perhaps poems poet poet's poetic poetry political possible present Press progress prophet race readers realization received refers religion religious seems sense sexual social society Song soul soul's spiritual stars suggests symbols theme theory things thought tion traditional transcendent understanding Union United Univ universe vision Walt Whitman women writings York
Bibliographic information
| Title | Minor Prophecy: Walt Whitman's New American Religion Religion in North America, ISSN 2691-204X |
| Author | David Kuebrich |
| Contributor | Indiana University. Press |
| Publisher | Indiana University Press, 1989 |
| Original from | the University of Michigan |
| Digitized | 14 Mar 2008 |
| ISBN | 0253331919, 9780253331915 |
| Length | 240 pages |
| Subjects | › › Literary Criticism / American / General Literary Criticism / Poetry |
| Export Citation | BiBTeX EndNote RefMan |