Walt Whitman by [Whitman, Walt] Bucke, Richard Maurice (1837-1902) - 1883

Philadelphia: David McKay, 1883. First Edition. First Printing. Hardcover. Octavo. 240 pages. Very Good. Bound in original red-brown cloth over boards with gilt-stamped spine lettering and rules, top edge gilt, light blue-green endpapers. Mottling to lower margin of cloth on upper board and toward heel of spine on lower board, spine somewhat darkened. Scattered foxing inside. Solid copy with sound hinges.. Black & white plates. An important Whitman book, though more of an anthology of documents about Whitman than a conventional biography. Its importance arises from the major contributions of Whitman himself, who wrote the account of his birthplace and family on the first 24 pages. Dr. Brucke was an adoring friend, and his tendency to sometimes portray Whitman as a demi-god made the poet uncomfortable, giving rise to significant alterations and revisions by Whitman in an attempt to tone it down. Printing 1 and binding A according to Blanck's Bibliography of American Literature. BAL #21424.