The Whitman revolution : sex, poetry, and politics / Betsy Erkkila.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Erkkila, Betsy, 1944- author.

Series:

Iowa Whitman Series

Iowa Whitman series

Standardized Title:

Essays Selections

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Democracy in literature.

Whitman, Walt, 1819-1892--Political and social views.

Whitman, Walt.

Whitman, Walt, 1819-1892--Criticism and interpretation.

Physical Description:

1 online resource

Place of Publication:

Iowa City, Iowa : University of Iowa Press, [2020]

Summary:

"In this set of essays, Betsy Erkkila's daring, insights, and range as a Whitman scholar are evident. The Whitman Revolution brings together a rich collection of her phenomenally influential essays that have been published over the years, along with two powerful new additions. She offers a moving account of the inseparable mix of the spiritual-sexual-political in Whitman and the absolute centrality of male-male connection to his work and thinking. Indeed, Erkkila has been on the forefront of scholarship positing that Whitman's songs are songs not only of workers and occupations but of sex and the body, homoeroticism and liberation. What is more, Erkkila demonstrates that this sexuality and communal impulse is central to Whitman's revolutionary poetry and his conception of democracy itself-an insight that was all but suppressed during the mid-20th century emergence of American literature as a field of study. Highlights of the collection include her essays on pairings such as Marx and Whitman, Dickinson and Whitman, and Melville and Whitman. Across the volume, she demonstrates an international vision that highlights the place of Leaves of Grass within a global struggle for democracy. The Whitman Revolution is evidence of Erkkila's remarkable ability to lead critical discussions, and marks an exciting event in Whitman Studies"

Revolutionary poetics. The federal mother : Whitman as revolutionary son -- Whitman and the politics of language -- "In paths untrodden". "Song of myself" and the politics of the body erotic -- Whitman and the homosexual republic -- Radical imaginaries : crossing over with Whitman and Dickinson -- The revolutionary Transatlantic. Whitman, Marx, and the American 1848 -- Insurrection, the Paris commune, and Leaves of grass -- Democratic vistas. Whitman, Melville, and the tribulations of democracy -- Public love : Whitman and political theory.

Contents:

Revolutionary poetics. The federal mother : Whitman as revolutionary son

Whitman and the politics of language

"In paths untrodden". "Song of myself" and the politics of the body erotic

Whitman and the homosexual republic

Radical imaginaries : crossing over with Whitman and Dickinson

The revolutionary Transatlantic. Whitman, Marx, and the American 1848

Insurrection, the Paris commune, and Leaves of grass

Democratic vistas. Whitman, Melville, and the tribulations of democracy

Public love : Whitman and political theory.

Notes:

Includes bibliographical references and index.

Description based on print version record.

ISBN:

9781609387228

1609387228

OCLC:

1155484781