Leaves of Grass Audiobook By Walt Whitman, American Renaissance Books cover art

Leaves of Grass

The Original 1855 Edition

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Leaves of Grass

By: Walt Whitman, American Renaissance Books
Narrated by: Sam Torode
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When Walt Whitman self-published "Leaves of Grass" in 1855, he rocked the literary world and forever changed the course of poetry. In subsequent editions, Whitman continued to revise and expand his poems - but none matched the raw power and immediacy of the first edition. This volume presents the 1855 "Leaves of Grass" in its entirety, unchanged, along with Ralph Waldo Emerson's famous letter to Whitman.

Public Domain (P)2017 Sam Torode Classics Literary History & Criticism Poetry United States World Literature Classic Poetry American Renaissance

Featured Article: The Best Poetry Audiobooks to Listen to for National Poetry Month


It’s a common turn of phrase that poetry is meant to be heard. Tone, pauses, cadence, and vocal inflections all serve to further the emotional pull of modern and historical poetic masterpieces. In audio, poems can be heard and enjoyed just as the poet meant them to be. Taking into account not only the words themselves but the way they are spoken, our list provides a look at the power behind a poem, celebrating those works which have touched our souls.

Featured Article The Best Poetry Audiobooks to Listen to for National Poetry Month
Magnificent Poetry • Profound Spirituality • Clear Reading • Exhilarating Wordplay • Timeless Relevance • Pleasant Voice

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If this was for the “calm app”, I’d get it, Whitman needs a confident reading, more passion! This feels like a bedtime story.

Very dis-impassioned narrating.

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It’s a very calm and clear rendition. I wish the reading had a bit more life to it. I also have some issues with certain pronunciation choices, but overall, it’s a good way to listen to some of the greatest poetry.

Pretty decent

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What three words best describe Sam Torode’s performance?

Pleasant voice and pace but far too many mispronunciations.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

No. Over four hours of poetry should be enjoyed slowly.

Great Poetry Marred by Mispronunciations

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What you'll find is worth a listen, even though as others have said, the narrator chose to interpret the poem other than most would have. His reading is clear, slow, understanding, but lacking in the exuberance and pitched modulation I would expect from whitman. But it is a true interpretation of the poem, because theres also a loafing relaxation throughout whitman.

Narrators Interpretation

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i love Walt Whitman as a rule, and picked this as something to unwind to as i revisit familiar poems. the narrator just didn't have the cadence for poetry, it was read very much like a textbook rather than something with a natural rhythm.

great work, meh reader

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One hesitates to leave a review for Walt. Naturally, it was wonderful and the reading wonderful. I spent my undergraduate and grad work admiring the modernist poets. I feel the winds changing within me after this listen.

Great stuff

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It’s Walt Whitman. Need I say more? Tried and true American Classic. Read by Presidents and eloquent summary for the ages!
The only thing changeable; in my honest opinion, is the speed by which the narrator reads. I found this book more enjoyable at half the speed!

A true American Classic!

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Walt Whitman is a virile, energetic, almost grandiose character whose magnificent poetry breathes both deep spirituality and a profound sense of being grounded in living. He leaves most polite and precious poetry in the dust.

I’m afraid, however, that the bland, unemotional, almost monotonous narrator brings nothing of Whitman to the reading. The poems are still there to hear, but the narrator basically reads them like
a list or a contract. Rather disappointing.

The Reader...

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So much is off, very disappointing. Is sucks that I basically should imagine how I'd read this and needing to buy a paper book :(

Narrator has no clue about poetry

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I recommend reading along with the narration, and pausing to reflect on the ideas that Whitman shares. Not only does Whitman seem ahead of his times, he seems ahead of ours as well.

Sam Torode’s voice beautifully conveys Whitman’s poetry

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