Which American Romantic poet published 'Leaves of Grass' in 1855?

Walt Whitman published “Leaves of Grass” in 1855. The first edition was a small, self-published volume that announced an unusually expansive poetic voice centered on democracy, the body, nature, work, and the individual.

Whitman paid for the printing himself, and the first edition appeared on July 4, 1855. It contained only twelve untitled poems, including the work later known as “Song of Myself.” The book did not initially identify its author prominently; instead, Whitman used a striking portrait and a bold poetic persona to present himself as an unmistakably American writer.

“Leaves of Grass” was not a fixed book. Whitman revised and enlarged it repeatedly throughout his life, so different editions can look dramatically different. By the 1891–92 “deathbed edition,” the collection had grown to more than 400 poems. Readers sometimes assume the 1855 volume was already a massive anthology; in fact, its importance began with its experimental style, long lines, free verse, and challenge to conventional poetic form.