"A morning glory at my window satisfies me more than the metaphysics of books." -Walt Whitman
Birthplace
• Born in West Hills, New York on May 31, 1819
• Second son of nine children
• Parents: Walter Whitman and Louisa Van Velsor
Early Years
• At age 11, Walt’s dad pulled him out of school so he could work to help support his family
• By age 12, Walt began working for a printer in
New York City and began a love for literature
• At age 17, he became a teacher in a one‐room school in Long Island, New York
Journalism
• In 1841, he began his career in journalism
• He started a weekly newspaper called The Long‐
Islander
• Walt was also editor of several other papers, including the Brooklyn Daily Eagle and the New
Orleans Crescent.
Published Works
• In 1842, Whitman published his first novel, called Franklin Evans; or The Inebriate.
• In his lifeUme, Whitman was published more than 100 books, poems, papers, leWers and manuscripts. Leaves of Grass
• On May 12, 1855 Whitman published his first ediUon of Leaves of Grass
• Leaves of Grass is what
Whitman is most famous for and "the beginning of a great career.” ‐Ralph Waldo
Emerson
Poetry
• Whitman wrote more than 300 poems during his lifeUme.
• Some of his first poems were 'I Sing the Body
Electric,' 'The Sleepers,' and 'Song of Myself’
‘Good‐bye, My Fancy!’ by Walt Whitman
• One of his most famous