In 1855, a “poetic divo” burst onto the literary stage and changed the course of poetic expression. Walt Whitman’s “Leaves of Grass” is considered the beginning of modern poetry. Part Two explores the latter half of his life and the profound effect the American Civil War had on the poet. His reputation spread to Europe, where diverse writers such as Oscar Wilde, Frederico García Lorca and Bram Stoker paid homage to him.
Producer: David Swatling
Broadcast: October 27, 2000