Content:
Edward Grier concludes that this manuscript was likely written before 1855 because of its similarity to several of the notebooks that Whitman wrote from that period (
Notebooks and Unpublished Prose Manuscripts
[New York: New York University Press, 1984], 6:2110). Ideas in this manuscript are similar to ideas in the first poem in the 1855 edition of
Leaves of Grass
, eventually titled "Song of Myself," and lines and phrases from the manuscript appear in another manuscript that may have contributed to the poem eventually titled "Song of Myself": see "I know many beautiful things" (tex.00031.html). The tone of the statements is also consistent with Whitman's early journalistic and editorial persona. Ideas and words from this manuscript are also similar to ideas and words that appeared in the preface to the 1855
Leaves of Grass
. There is also a chance this manuscript relates to language in a Whitman-authored review of the 1855 edition of
Leaves of Grass
, titled "Walt Whitman and His Poems," originally published in the
United States Review.
An image of the reverse of this manuscript is currently unavailable.
Whitman Archive Title: there are leading moral truths
Content:
Whitman probably drafted this manuscript around 1855. Based on the handwriting and the size of the scrap, Edward Grier dates it to the 1850s, though he also notes that an archival notation on the mounting page next to the manuscript dates it to 1870 (
Notebooks and Unpublished Prose Manuscripts
[New York: New York University Press, 1984], 6:2140). Wording and ideas in the manuscript bear some resemblance to sentences in "Walt Whitman and His Poems," a review Whitman wrote of the first (1855) edition of
Leaves of Grass
. The review was published in
The United States Review
in September, 1855. It was also part of a series of reviews printed separately and included in some copies of the 1855 edition.
Content:
The writing at the top of this manuscript bears some resemblance to this sentence from the preface to the first edition of
Leaves of Grass
: "Great genius and the people of these states must never be demeaned to romances" (1855, p. ix). The language and topic also resemble those of Whitman's self-authored review of the 1855
Leaves of Grass
, "Walt Whitman and His Poems," which was published in
The United States Review
in September, 1855. It was also one of several reviews printed separately and included in some copies of the 1855 edition. Edward Grier, in
Notebooks and Unpublished Prose Manuscripts,
notes that "the small writing suggests a date in the 1850s" (New York: New York University Press, 1984), 1:361.
Whitman Archive Title: [appendage leaves—the original (1855 Brooklyn) edition]
Content:
Printed copies of reviews that were reprinted in
Leaves of Grass
and that include Whitman's corrections and
notations. "Walt Whitman a Brooklyn Boy.
Leaves of Grass (A Volume of Poems Just Published)" was first
printed in the 29 September 1855 issue of the
Brooklyn Daily Times
. "Walt Whitman and his Poems" was first
published in the September 1855 issue of
United States Review
.
