• Leaves of Grass

  • By: Walt Whitman
  • Narrated by: Ed Begley
  • Length: 43 mins
  • 4.2 out of 5 stars (91 ratings)

Prime logo Prime members: New to Audible?
Get 2 free audiobooks during trial.
Pick 1 audiobook a month from our unmatched collection.
Listen all you want to thousands of included audiobooks, Originals, and podcasts.
Access exclusive sales and deals.
Premium Plus auto-renews for $14.95/mo after 30 days. Cancel anytime.
Leaves of Grass  By  cover art

Leaves of Grass

By: Walt Whitman
Narrated by: Ed Begley
Try for $0.00

$14.95/month after 30 days. Cancel anytime.

Buy for $7.00

Buy for $7.00

Pay using card ending in
By confirming your purchase, you agree to Audible's Conditions of Use and Amazon's Privacy Notice. Taxes where applicable.

Publisher's summary

Walt Whitman's celebrated poetry collection, read by Ed Begley. Includes: 'The Old Face of the Mother of Many Children', 'Out of the Cradle Endlessly Rocking', 'A March in the Ranks Hard-Prest', 'Good-Bye My Fancy', 'Hear America Singing', 'I Think I Could Turn and Live with Animals', 'The Sleepers Are Very Beautiful', 'Give Me The Splendid Silent Sun', 'Song of Myself - I Celebrate Myself', 'To a Locomotive', 'Who Goes There', 'A Child Said What Is the Grass', 'The Spotted Hawk Swoops By and Accuses Me', and 'When I Heard the Learn'd Astronomer'.

©2010 Saland Publishing (P)2010 Saland Publishing

What listeners say about Leaves of Grass

Average customer ratings
Overall
  • 4 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    55
  • 4 Stars
    14
  • 3 Stars
    11
  • 2 Stars
    7
  • 1 Stars
    4
Performance
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    49
  • 4 Stars
    15
  • 3 Stars
    6
  • 2 Stars
    3
  • 1 Stars
    3
Story
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    46
  • 4 Stars
    13
  • 3 Stars
    7
  • 2 Stars
    3
  • 1 Stars
    3

Reviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.

Sort by:
Filter by:
  • Overall
    2 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

It is NOT unabridged.

Any additional comments?

Walt Whitman's words and Ed Begley's reading are wondrous, sublime, and powerful. But this audiobook lasts a mere 43 minutes, which immediately tells you it is *not* an unabridged version of the book.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

12 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    1 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    1 out of 5 stars

Bastardizes great American literature

Not unabridged. I was eagerly expecting to read along while listening. HOWEVER, this is not read in full or in order. Even his snippet from the Sleepers leaves out a few lines at the end. Terrible. This is why an idiot like Trump can get elected. We are not accurately educating each other. Please do not listen to this and equate it with the fullness of the real work of art!

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

5 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    2 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Good reading when it isn't glitchy

Impeccably read, but poorly edited: tons of background hiss and even glitches skipping several seconds.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

4 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Breathtaking

Probably the best performance I heard. I wish it included more poems from this universal poet.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

2 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Well done, Walt Whitman and Ed Begley.

Ed Begley performed beautifully but titles of poems could have been added to the narration

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

2 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

If only there were more!!

Ed Begley does such a wonderful reading that you'll be wishing fervently for more. Never have I heard a better reading of poetry. The last time a narration dazzled me like that was Day-Lewis' reading of his own translation of Virgil's "The Georgics".

The entire audiobook is as brilliant as the three minute sample.

I imagine that Walt Whitman would be delighted by this beautiful reading of his poetry.

If only there were more!!

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Blast

Short but very interesting. His appreciation for life is evident. I never got into Walt, but this makes me want to read more from this poet.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Walt Is A Very Profound SOB.

What made the experience of listening to Leaves of Grass the most enjoyable?

Reading Walt is like finding great Soul Food and can't stop eating it.

What did you like best about this story?

Twas a large meal of various appetites and all delicious.

What does Ed Begley bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

Ed reads the poetry as well as I have heard and puts his soul into it but each with it's own significant voice.

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

My first Walt W.

Any additional comments?

I recommend it especially for fans of Tennyson.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

Inspiring!

This is the first time I truly "got" Walt! Thank you for this introduction to the grandfather of American poetry.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Begley helped me understand

The musical power and large hearted was of Whitman's poems. Wish it were twice as long!

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

1 person found this helpful