Timeline Wednesday 4 July 1855

Events on Wednesday 4 July 1855 1

• 1855 Walt Whitman publishes Leaves of Grass Self-published poetry collection reshapes American literature Walt Whitman self-published the first edition of Leaves of Grass, a collection of poems written in free verse celebrating the individual and American democracy. The book was controversial for its frank treatment of the body and sexuality but came to be regarded as a landmark of American poetry. Whitman continued revising and expanding it for the rest of his life.