The Modern Scholar

Walt Whitman and the Birth of Modern American Poetry

By: Karen Karbiener

Narrated by: Karen Karbiener

Length: 8 hrs and 15 mins

Publisher's summary

In this course we'll explore how Walt Whitman broke with the tyranny of European literary forms to establish a broad, new voice for American poetry. By throwing aside the stolid conventions and clichéd meters of old Europe, Walt Whitman produced a vital, compelling form of verse, one expressive of the nature of his new world and its undiscovered countries, both physical and spiritual, intimate and gloriously public.

Passionate democracy is what Whitman called his invention, and like the inventions of Edison, it would transform not only the practices of its field but also the larger dimensions of American life. Whitman named what it was to be American, he catalogued and indexed and sang and scribed it, and his influence on his contemporaries and his descendants transcends the boundaries of poetry and becomes, in many ways, the story of young America.

Download the accompanying reference guide.

©2004 Karen Karbiener (P)2004 Recorded Books

Great lecture!

Whitman being my favorite poet, the lecture covers him very well. The voice is pleasant. Well done!

Such an Exciting and Energizing Lecture

Karen does such a wonderful job bringing Whitman from the 19th century to the 21st century.

fantastic for Whitman and beyond

I will be listening to this many times, I can tell. the lecturer offers a lot not only about Whitman but, through discussing his effects on his successors, gives you a good overview of modern poetry. as a bonus: enlightening discussions of Whitman's effects on pop culture, such as Woody Guthrie and Bruce Springsteen.

An excellent class

This is a series of class lecture by Professor Karen Karblener for the Modern Scholar. This series is on Walt Whitman 1819 to 1892. According to Karblener Whitman was beginning of American poetry and is often called the “father of free verse”. The teacher goes through Whitman’s life and his poetry. She brings up controversy regarding his sexual orientation, his politics as a liberal democrat, being banned in Boston, and his opposition to slavery. She says Whitman was educated only to elementary school but was a printer and a reader. She states he was not considered successful in his lifetime but his poetry became sought after in the 20th century. She reads from some of his poems and discusses them such as “Leaves of Grass”. Overall it is a good introduction to Whitman. I remember little of what we discussed about Whitman in high school so this audio book allowed me to have a good understanding of Whitman and his place in American poetry.

Ahead of His Time; And Maybe Even Ours

I am very grateful to my bookclub for reintroducing me to Walt Whitman. Sure, he's a dead white man, but this classic writer defied all the rules of his time, and he still seems as fresh and radical - sometimes even shocking - as he must have in 19th century America.

Professor Karbiener has obviously great knowledge of and enthusiasm for her poet. It's clear from the beginning that the study of Walt Whitman's life, work and influence could fill several semesters. In this 8 hour treatment, she gives us history, an overview of the work, and a clear feeling for the many ways Whitman has left his mark on American art and culture since his death in 1892.

Every American can be inspired by this life and poetry. Whitman still stands for the very best that we can be - brave, accepting of the new and the strange and different, and full of energy and enthusiasm for the future!

This course is way better than a week at a spa.

Simply Brilliant!

Would you consider the audio edition of The Modern Scholar to be better than the print version?

Professor Karbiener is absolutely captivating. Previously, I've been a (very) casual Whitman reader. Dr. Karbiener's enthusiasm and eloquence has made me want to unfold and behold all things Whitman. I've listened to several lectures in the Modern Scholar series and have enjoyed them all. This, in my opinion, is the best of what I've heard so far.

As a side note, Dr. Karbiener's voice is a joy to hear.