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Voice: The Secret Power of Great Writing
by James BellWhat is the single greatest secret to a breakout writing career? What is it that every agent and editor wants to see, and every reader delights in? It's VOICE. Everyone talks about it, yet no one seems able to define it. Voice has therefore been the most elusive aspect of the entire writing craft to teach. Until now. In this book, #1 bestselling writing teacher James Scott Bell reveals the true source of voice, and what any writer in any genre can do to capture it for their own work. In VOICE: The Secret Power of Great Writing you'll learn: * An actual working definition of voice that is simple yet powerful * Bell's original method for turning that definition into book-length voice power * How to vary voice from genre to genre, book to book * How to enhance voice with emotion, flow, and attitude * How to create vivid word pictures * Exercises to expand your voice and style * Example after example of voice in action Don't settle for good writing. Go for the unforgettable. The secret of voice will help you get there.
Voices for Children
by William T. GormleyThe United States spends more on programs for the elderly than it does on programs that enhance child development and improve child welfare. Why has public policy neglected the development phase of young Americans' lives not only in substantive dollars spent, but also in program design and implementation? Noted child care and education policy expert William Gormley highlights the portrayal of children's issues in both the mass media and in public policymaking to explain why children have gotten short shrift. A key explanation is the limited mass media coverage of strong arguments in support of children's programs.After documenting changes in rhetoric on children and public policy over time and variations across policy domains and government venues, Gormley demonstrates that some "issue frames" are more effective than others in persuading voters. In two randomized experiments, he finds that "economic" frames are more effective than "moralistic" frames in generating public support for children's programs. Independent voters are especially responsive to economic frames. In several illuminating case studies, in Connecticut, Utah, North Carolina, and Pennsylvania, he finds that strong rhetoric makes a difference but that it is sometimes eclipsed by even stronger political and economic constraints. Voices for Children offers a fresh perspective on raging debates over child health, child poverty, child welfare, and education programs at the federal and state levels. It finds some hopeful examples that could transform how we think about children's issues and the kinds of public policies we adopt.
Voices from Ukraine: Journalists in, from and about the war
by Rashad MammadovVoices from Ukraine takes you into the lives and experiences of journalists covering one of the most consequential wars of our time. This book provides a detailed examination of war reporting in Ukraine by merging the author’s insights with the stories of journalists, collected from Ukrainian and international media sources. It claims that nationality, gender, technology, and politics have significantly influenced journalism during this crisis, creating possibilities and challenges that shape how the conflict is perceived and covered worldwide. The author emphasizes the role played by journalists in conflicts and their impact on democratic discourse and public awareness of war. Voices from Ukraine examines the dangerous new paradigm of misinformation, the paradox of neutrality, and the personal, professional and ethical choices journalists face in combat zones. It also covers the experiences of international reporters and honors the outstanding work of women journalists in a field traditionally dominated by men. Within the broader scope of war journalism literature, this book raises questions about how journalists’ experiences in the war in Ukraine alter our understanding of conflict reporting.
Voices of Revolution: The Dissident Press in America
by Rodger StreitmatterStreitmatter tells the stories of dissident American publications and press movements of the last two centuries, and of the colorful individuals behind them. From publications that fought for the disenfranchised to those that promoted social reform, Voices of Revolution examines the abolitionist and labor press, black power publications of the 1960s, the crusade against the barbarism of lynching, the women's movement, and antiwar journals. Streitmatter also discusses gay and lesbian publications, contemporary on-line journals, and counterculture papers like The Kudzu and The Berkeley Barb that flourished in the 1960s. Voices of Revolution also identifies and discusses some of the distinctive characteristics shared by the genres of the dissident press that rose to prominence—from the early nineteenth century to the late twentieth century. For far too long, mainstream journalists and even some media scholars have viewed radical, leftist, or progressive periodicals in America as "rags edited by crackpots." However, many of these dissident presses have shaped the way Americans think about social and political issues.
Voices of the New Arab Public: Iraq, al-Jazeera, and Middle East Politics Today
by Marc LynchAl-Jazeera and other satellite television stations have transformed Arab politics over the last decade. By shattering state control over information and giving a platform to long-stifled voices, these new Arab media have challenged the status quo by encouraging open debate about Iraq, Palestine, Islamism, Arab identity, and other vital political and social issues. These public arguments have redefined what it means to be Arab and reshaped the realm of political possibility. As Marc Lynch shows, the days of monolithic Arab opinion are over. How Arab governments and the United States engage this newly confident and influential public sphere will profoundly shape the future of the Arab world.Marc Lynch draws on interviews conducted in the Middle East and analyses of Arab satellite television programs, op-ed pages, and public opinion polls to examine the nature, evolution, and influence of the new Arab public sphere. Lynch, who pays close attention to what is actually being said and talked about in the Arab world, takes the contentious issue of Iraq-which has divided Arabs like no other issue-to show how the media revolutionized the formation and expression of public opinion. He presents detailed discussions of Arab arguments about sanctions and the 2003 British and American invasion and occupation of Iraq. While Arabs strongly disagreed about Saddam's regime, they increasingly saw the effects of sanctions as a potent symbol of the suffering of all Arabs. Anger and despair over these sanctions shaped Arab views of America, their governments, and themselves. Lynch also suggests how the United States can develop and improve its engagement with the Arab public sphere. He argues that the United States should move beyond treating the Arab public sphere as either an enemy to be defeated or an object to be manipulated via public relations. Instead of wasting vast sums of money on a satellite television station nobody watches, the United States should enter the public sphere as it really exists.
Voices of the Talking Stars: Women of Indian Cinema and Beyond
by Geoffrey A. OddieExplores the complex relationships between cinema, industry, cultures, labour and gender during the studio era (1930–55) The fourth book in the Readings in Gender Studies series, Voices of the Talking Stars is a feminist historiography for films compiled by the School of Women’s Studies, Jadavpur University. It interrogates the frameworks of film history, culture and politics, weaving in debates on romance, sexuality, body and masculinity. Examining new categories of analysis such as desire and disquiet, this volume brings together some rare photographs and writings by leading women actors—reproduction of poems by Meena Kumari Naz, an open letter titled ‘I’m a Bad Girl’ by Mae West and an extract from her film I’m No Angel, an interview with Jamuna Barua and a translation from Kanan Devi’s autobiography. It also includes excerpts from the Indian Cinematograph Committee Report (1927–28).
Voicing Relationships: A Dialogic Perspective
by Leslie A. BaxterOne of the field's most respected scholars advances a dialogic perspective on communication in personal and familial relationships, presenting the next iteration of relational dialectics theory (RDT)."This is an excellent book and moves one of the major theories in the social sciences forward in very innovative ways. Indeed, this book extends beyond RDT by addressing limitations in the family, interpersonal, and personal relationships literature. I believe this book will prompt many discussions among theorists and researchers in those areas and has the potential to provide exciting new directions in the study of relationships." —Glen H. Stamp, Ball State University"Leslie A. Baxter is offering up something here that is desperately needed and fills a big hole for those who adopt RDT as their theoretical framework. . . . I found the conceptual content of the book to be clear, compelling, and provoking. . . . The chapter on contrapuntal analysis is the only one of its kind." —Melissa Wood Alemán, James Madison UniversityVoicing Relationships presents a dialogic perspective on relating, inspired by the dialogism work of the Russian theorist of literature and culture, Mikhail Bakhtin. Written by Leslie A. Baxter, one of the theory's originators, this groundbreaking book presents the next iteration of the theory, along with a methodological primer for contrapuntal analysis that includes guiding readers through a sample analysis.Developing a rich palette of dialogic concepts useful in the study of interpersonal communication, the book's central argument is that meaning making emerges from the clash of competing systems of meaning, or discourses. Relationship communication is embedded in culture, history, difference, and conceptions of the ideal. In addition, the book gives us a method by which to study communication dialogically—contrapuntal analysis.Key FeaturesCenters communication at the heart of relationships with an interdisciplinary focus on communication from fields such as psychology, social work, and sociologyOffers an up-to-date distillation of two decades of relevant research to organize major findings and issuesMoves scholars and students beyond simplistic uses of relational dialectics or using the dialectical pairs in overly-simplistic "cookie cutter" waysProvides scholars and students with guidance in using RDT to guide their own researchIntended AudienceVoicing Relationships is ideal for use in a wide range of courses, such as Interpersonal Communication; Family Studies; Couples, Marriage, and Family; and Counseling.
Voluntary Madness: My Year Lost and Found in the Loony Bin
by Norah VincentThe journalist who famously lived as a man commits herself literally. Norah Vincent's New York Times bestselling book, Self-Made Man, ended on a harrowing note. Suffering from severe depression after her eighteen months living disguised as a man, Vincent felt she was a danger to herself. On the advice of her psychologist she committed herself to a mental institution. Out of this raw and overwhelming experience came the idea for her next book. She decided to get healthy and to study the effect of treatment on the depressed and insane in the bin, as she calls it. Vincent's journey takes her from a big city hospital to a facility in the Midwest and finally to an upscale retreat down south, as she analyzes the impact of institutionalization on the unwell, the tyranny of drugs-as-treatment, and the dysfunctional dynamic between caregivers and patients. Vincent applies brilliant insight as she exposes her personal struggle with depression and explores the range of people, caregivers, and methodologies that guide these strange, often scary, and bizarre environments. Eye opening, emotionally wrenching, and at times very funny, Voluntary Madness is a riveting work that exposes the state of mental health care in America from the inside out.
Volunteer Slavery: My Authentic Negro Experience
by Jill Elizabeth NelsonWhen Jill Nelson became the first black woman to write for The Washington Post's prestigious Sunday magazine in 1986, she thought she had entered journalism heaven. But the magazine proved to be insulting to black readers.
Vorurteile – Medien – Gruppen: Wie Vorurteile durch Medienrezeption in Gruppen beeinflusst werden (essentials)
by Johanna Schindler Anne BartschIm Alltag haben viele Menschen fast ausschließlich über Medieninhalte Kontakt zu Angehörigen verschiedener anderer gesellschaftlicher Gruppen (Outgroups). Gleichzeitig nutzen und verarbeiten sie Medieninhalte häufig gemeinsam in ihrer eigenen Gruppe (Ingroup). Johanna Schindler und Anne Bartsch beleuchten den Einfluss der Medienrezeption in Kleingruppen auf Vorurteile gegenüber Outgroups. Dazu systematisieren sie wissenschaftliche Erkenntnisse zu Vorurteilen und zur Medienrezeption in Gruppen und verbinden diese miteinander. Außerdem stellen die Autorinnen die Ergebnisse einer explorativen Feldstudie vor. Auf diese Weise wird eine integrative Perspektive auf Gruppenphänomene in der modernen Mediengesellschaft ermöglicht.Die AutorinnenJohanna Schindler ist wissenschaftliche Mitarbeiterin am Institut für Kommunikationswissenschaft und Medienforschung der Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München. Prof. Dr. Anne Bartsch ist Professorin für Empirische Kommunikations- und Medienwissenschaft am IfKMW der Universität Leipzig.
Vote Gun: How Gun Rights Became Politicized in the United States
by Patrick J. CharlesToday, gun control is one of the most polarizing topics in American politics. However, before the 1960s, positions on firearms rights did not necessarily map onto partisan affiliation. What explains this drastic shift?Patrick J. Charles charts the rise of gun rights activism from the early twentieth century through the 1980 presidential election, pinpointing the role of the 1968 Gun Control Act. Gun rights advocates including the National Rifle Association had lobbied legislators for decades, but they had cast firearms control as a local issue. After the assassination of President John F. Kennedy in 1963 spurred congressional proposals to regulate firearms, gun rights advocates found common cause with states’ rights proponents opposed to civil rights legislation. Following the enactment of the Gun Control Act, lawmakers on both sides of the aisle began to stake out firm positions. Politicians including Richard Nixon and Ronald Reagan recognized the potential of gun control as a wedge issue, and gun rights became increasingly tied to the Republican Party.Drawing on a vast range of archival evidence, Charles offers new insight into the evolution of the gun rights movement and how politicians responded to anti–gun control hardliners. He examines in detail how the National Rifle Association reinvented itself as well as how other advocacy groups challenged the NRA’s political monopoly. Offering a deep dive into the politicization of gun rights, Vote Gun reveals the origins of the acrimonious divisions that persist to this day.
Vote With Your Phone: Why Mobile Voting Is Our Final Shot at Saving Democracy
by Bradley TuskDemocracy is broken because the way we vote is broken. But there is a solution: Mobile Voting.Gun Control. Abortion. From the halls of Congress, it may seem that Americans are bitterly polarized on the biggest policy issues of the day. But Americans are not as divides as we think, and polls show that most of us largely agree on even the most divisive issues. The problem lies in how we vote. Politics is more extreme because only the most extreme voters turn out in primaries. And with politicians prioritizing reelection above all else, they shun compromise, feed this extremism, and get rewarded for it. If a lot more people vote, the views of the electorate become more mainstream, and our politicians and policies will shift to the center. Mobile voting is the solution. We do just about everything on our phones, and yet we still can't use them to vote. But the technology exists, provides enhanced security over traditional paper ballots, and it could exponentially increase voter turnout by: Allowing Americans to vote from anywhere, on their own scheduleMaking voting more accessible for people who are not well served by mail-in ballots, such as voters with visual impairments and military servicemembers – and their families - overseasProviding more security than traditional paper ballotsIncentivizing younger voters to participate by using technology they're familiar withFrom Bradley Tusk, philanthropist and founder of the Mobile Voting Project, comes a deeply informative and timely analysis of our broken voting system, introducing us to the history, opposition, and potential of voting from our devices. Including essays by Martin Luther King Jr. III and other prominent political figures, Vote with Your Phone shows us that a solution to restoring faith in our representative democracy is right in the palm of our hands.
Voting Deliberatively: FDR and the 1936 Presidential Campaign (Rhetoric and Democratic Deliberation #12)
by Mary E. StuckeyThe 1932 election of Franklin Delano Roosevelt seemed to hold the promise of Democratic domination for years to come. However, leading up to the 1936 election, persistent economic problems, a controversial domestic agenda, and the perception of a weak foreign policy were chipping away at public support. The president faced unrelenting criticism from both the Left and the Right, and it seemed unlikely that he would cruise to the same clear victory he enjoyed in 1932. But 1936 was yet another landslide win for FDR, which makes it easy to forget just how contested the campaign was. In Voting Deliberatively, Mary Stuckey examines little-discussed components of FDR’s 1936 campaign that aided his victory. She reveals four elements of this reelection campaign that have not received adequate attention: the creation of public opinion, the attention paid to local organizations, the focus on specific kinds of interests, and the public rhetoric that tied it all together. Previous studies of the 1936 presidential election discuss elements such as FDR’s vulnerability before the campaign and the weakness of Republican candidate Alf Landon. But these histories pay little attention to the quantity and quality of information Roosevelt acquired, the importance of organizations such as the Good Neighbor League and the Committee of One, the mobilization of the vote, and the ways in which these organizational strategies fused with Roosevelt’s rhetorical strategies. Stuckey shows how these facets combined in one of the largest victories in Electoral College history and provided a template for future victory.
Voy a ser asertiva: Utiliza tu inteligencia emocional para autoafirmarte
by Olga Castanyer Olga Cañizares GilEn el terreno personal y profesional, las mujeres nos enfrentamos a diario a situaciones en las que la falta de asertividad nos lleva a recurrir a formas de expresión excesivamente agresivas que anulan nuestro mensaje, o bien acabamos por callar ante el temor de provocar un conflicto. Voy a ser asertiva es un manual práctico que expone las competencias básicas para desarrollar la autoestima y la asertividad femeninas. ¿Qué es necesario para que las mujeres (tú, yo, nosotras) nos sintamos completamente seguras, confiadas, capaces e independientes? Quizás nos han enseñado a comportarnos de manera sumisa o al contrario, hemos tenido que aprender a ser agresivas para abrirnos camino en la vida... Sea como sea, en cualquier momento podemos reaprender actitudes, pensamientos y conductas asertivas que nos lleven a sentirnos plenas. Imagínate desarrollando todo este potencial. ¿De qué teserviría?, ¿serías la misma?, ¿qué cambiaría? Para ello necesitaremos conocernos a fondo, aprender a regular bien nuestras emociones, a querernos, a valorarnos, a ser capaces de motivarnos y de ser asertivas. En definitiva: autoafirmarnos desde el respeto y la igualdad. Porque una no nace más o menos asertiva. Se trata de pensamientos y conductas que se aprenden. Pero ¿cómo? Te proponemos iniciar un camino en el que, con la ayuda de las competencias de la inteligencia emocional, podrás conocerte mejor y gustarte de verdad al mismo tiempo que aceptas todo aquello que no te satisface, aprendes a diferenciarte de los demás y a comunicarte con los que te rodean desde tu independencia y respeto teniendo criterios claros y poder así, finalmente, actuar asertivamente. ¿Quieres acompañarnos en este viaje hacia ti misma?
VuePress Quick Start Guide: Build blazing-fast static websites with the power of Vue.js
by Sufyan Bin UzayrA fast paced that will teach you to build Static JavaScript Sites and Amazing Web Apps Using VuePressKey FeaturesBuild quick, SEO-friendly static websites with VuePress and Vue.jsDevelop and maintain your sites long termUse the power of Vue + webpack, and develop custom themes with VueBook DescriptionWhat are static site generators, why do you need them, and how are they better than general blogging or writing or content tools? This book answers all those questions as you learn how to build sites with VuePress. This book teaches you how to build static sites in VuePress in no time. All the site content is rendered as HTML by VuePress and is then executed as a single-page web app. This means everything works fast and loads quickly. You will start by installing and setting up the VuePress static site generator. You will learn about the powerful JavaScript framework Vue.js, which underpins VuePress, looking at its uses and advantages. You will then dig deep into the specifics of VuePress, covering content creation in Markdown, customization, internationalization, and deployment. You will also learn about security methods, configuration files for new installations, and many other techniques to have you building your own sites safely and quickly.By the end of the book, you will have built your own static website by leveraging the power of Vue.js and VuePress.What you will learnPut together a simple site in MarkdownUse VuePress to generate a super-fast static siteCustomize the appearance of your VuePress site using custom themesWork with internationalization and localize your site in multiple languagesSet up a custom home page with a call to action button as well as other pages and a navigation menuDeploy your JavaScript site to services such as Heroku, and NetlifyWho this book is forIf you want to create static sites easily, this book is for you. No knowledge of VuePress is required, but some experience with JavaScript will be helpful.
Vulnerable Systems
by Wolfgang Kröger Enrico ZioThe safe management of the complex distributed systems and critical infrastructures which constitute the backbone of modern industry and society entails identifying and quantifying their vulnerabilities to design adequate protection, mitigation, and emergency action against failure. In practice, there is no fail-safe solution to such problems and various frameworks are being proposed to effectively integrate different methods of complex systems analysis in a problem-driven approach to their solution. Vulnerable Systems reflects the current state of knowledge on the procedures which are being put forward for the risk and vulnerability analysis of critical infrastructures. Classical methods of reliability and risk analysis, as well as new paradigms based on network and systems theory, including simulation, are considered in a dynamic and holistic way. Readers of Vulnerable Systems will benefit from its structured presentation of the current knowledge base on this subject. It will enable graduate students, researchers and safety and risk analysts to understand the methods suitable for different phases of analysis and to identify their criticalities in application.
WCDMA Design Handbook
by Andrew RichardsonDeveloped out of a successful professional engineering course, this practical handbook was originally published in 2005, and provides a comprehensive explanation of the Wideband CDMA (Code Division Multiple Access) air interface of 3rd generation UMTS cellular systems. The book addresses all aspects of the design of the WCDMA radio interface from the lower layers to the upper layers of the protocol architecture. It considers each of the layers in turn, to build a complete understanding of the design and operation of the WCDMA radio interface including the physical layer, RF and baseband processing, MAC, RLC, PDCP/BMP, Non-Access stratum and RRC. An ideal course book and reference for professional engineers, undergraduate and graduate students.
WDM Systems and Networks
by Georgios Ellinas Neophytos Neo Antoniades Ioannis RoudasModeling, Simulation, Design and Engineering of WDM Systems and Networks provides readers with the basic skills, concepts, and design techniques used to begin design and engineering of optical communication systems and networks at various layers. The latest semi-analytical system simulation techniques are applied to optical WDM systems and networks, and a review of the various current areas of optical communications is presented. Simulation is mixed with experimental verification and engineering to present the industry as well as state-of-the-art research. This contributed volume is divided into three parts, accommodating different readers interested in various types of networks and applications. The first part of the book presents modeling approaches and simulation tools mainly for the physical layer including transmission effects, devices, subsystems, and systems), whereas the second part features more engineering/design issues for various types of optical systems including ULH, access, and in-building systems. The third part of the book covers networking issues related to the design of provisioning and survivability algorithms for impairment-aware and multi-domain networks. Intended for professional scientists, company engineers, and university researchers, the text demonstrates the effectiveness of computer-aided design when it comes to network engineering and prototyping.
WIKI
by Alan J. PorterWIKI: Grow Your Own for Fun and Profit introduces the concept of wikis, and shows why they are becoming the must-have communications and collaboration technology for businesses of any size. Using a garden as a metaphor, Alan J. Porter shows you step-by-step how to select wiki software, get started, overcome resistance to wikis, maintain your wiki, and use your wiki for internal collaboration, project planning, communication with your customers, and more. Includes five case studies that highlight the ways companies are using wikis to solve business and communication problems, increase efficiency, and improve customer satisfaction. Inside the Book A Brief History of Collaboration Defining the Wiki Planting the Seed First Growth Maintaining the Garden Landscaping Harvesting the Information A Wiki Checklist Notes on Popular Wiki Software Resources and Index
Waking Up and Growing Up: Spiritual Cross-Training for an Evolving World
by Diane Musho Hamilton Gabriel Kaigen WilsonA fresh, nuanced view of Zen integrates relational and emotional skill-building with traditional practices in a spiritual &“cross-training&” approach suited for the unique demands of modern life.This compelling and innovative view of Zen practice gives people in their 20s and 30s a contemporary approach to spiritual development that is meaningful and actionable within the complexities of modern life. Grounded deeply in the tradition of Soto Zen, professional mediators and Zen practitioners Diane Hamilton and Gabriel Wilson extol the virtues of sitting meditation, dharma study, and the student-teacher relationship. At the same time, they offer insight into the importance of emotional development and the maturation of relationship skills. This approach draws on insights from Integral psychology as taught by philosopher Ken Wilber, neurophysiology, trauma work, adult development, and teachings of the Zen masters to:develop interpersonal communication skills; blend the spiritual path with the realities of contemporary life; learn how to navigate issues of inclusivity and diversity; explore issues of identity; train our power of attention rather than get caught up in social media, division, and crisis; mature our emotional and relational skills; and much more. Complete with practices, exercises, and reflections in each chapter, this book offers an accessible, insightful approach to becoming more personally effective, compassionate, and spiritually awake.
Walking on Eggshells: Navigating the Delicate Relationship Between Adult Children and Parents (Thorndike Health, Home And Learning Ser.)
by Jane IsayThe perfect gift for both parents and their adult children—&”a wonderfully wise and constructive intergenerational guide&” that will keep you connected to the people you love most. &“Read it and learn.&”—New York Times bestselling author Judith Viorst We raise our children to be independent and lead fulfilling lives, but when they finally do, staying close becomes more complicated than ever. And for every bewildered mother who wonders why her children don&’t call, there is a frustrated son or daughter who just wants to be treated like a grownup. Now, renowned author and editor Jane Isay delivers real-life wisdom and advice on how to stay together without falling apart. Using extensive interviews with people from ages twenty-five to seventy, Isay shows that we&’re far from alone in our struggles to make this new, adult relationship work. She offers up groundbreaking insights and deeply moving stories that will inspire those in even the toughest situations. Isay&’s warmth and wit shine through on every page as she charts an invaluable course through the confusing, and often painful, interactions parents and children can face. Walking on Eggshells is the much-needed road map that will keep you connected to the people you love most.
Walking the Talk: Building a Culture for Success (Revised Edition)
by Carolyn TaylorA new, fully revised edition.The culture of an organisation can mean the difference between success and failure. Leaders cast long shadows, and if you want to change the culture you have to walk the talk. This book shows you how.Walking the Talk covers everything from measuring corporate culture to changing people's behaviour (including your own) and describes in detail six archetypes of company culture: Achievement, Customer-Centric, One-Team, Innovative, People-First and Greater-Good. Packed with fascinating examples and case histories, and drawing extensively on Carolyn Taylor's twenty years' experience of building great cultures, it will give you the confidence to build a culture of success in your own organisation.
Walt Whitman and the Culture of American Celebrity
by David Haven BlakeThis book tells the story of how an obscure Brooklyn poet, better known for his political journalism than verse, immersed himself in the culture of celebrity that was then emerging in the United States. Hoping to redress the mounting divisions in his country, he declared that the poet would become the center of American civic life, that he would command more power and sway than the political representatives he expected to supersede. As Whitman imagined it, the story of celebrity would be the story of democracy. He hoped that the nation's narrow political institutions would undergo an extraordinary transformation once they encountered the populist power embodied in the poet's fame.
Walt Whitman's New Orleans: Sidewalk Sketches and Newspaper Rambles (Library of Southern Civilization)
by Walt WhitmanWalt Whitman’s short stint in New Orleans during the spring of 1848 was a crucial moment of literary and personal development, with many celebrated poems from Leaves of Grass showing its influence. Walt Whitman’s New Orleans is the first book dedicated to republishing his writings about the Crescent City, including numerous previously unknown pieces. Often spending his afternoons strolling through the vibrant city with his brother in tow, the young Whitman translated his impressions into short prose sketches that cataloged curious sights, captured typical characters one might meet on the levee, and joked about the strangeness of urban life. Including the first complete run of a fictional, multipart series titled “Sketches of the Sidewalks and Levee,” Walt Whitman’s New Orleans pairs his glimpses of the city with historical illustrations, supplementary texts, detailed annotations, and an introduction by editor Stefan Schöberlein that offers new insights on the poet’s southern sojourn. Whitmanites, history enthusiasts, and lovers of New Orleans will find much to treasure in these humorous, evocative scenes of antebellum city life.
Walt Whitman: A Life
by Justin KaplanThe Pulitzer Prize and National Book Award-winning author “gives us flesh and blood Whitman in this fine and sensitive biography” (The Boston Globe).A moving, penetrating, sharply focused portrait of America’s greatest poet—his genius, his passions, his androgynous sensibility—an exuberant life entwined with the turbulent history of mid-nineteenth century America. In vivid detail, Justin Kaplan, winner of the Pulitzer Prize and the National Book Award, examines the mysterious selves of this enigmatic man whose bold voice of joy and sexual liberation embraced a growing nation . . . and exposes the quintessential Whitman, that perfect poet whose astonishing verse made “words sing, dance, kiss, copulate” for an entire world to hear.“Whitman emerges from this biography alive and kicking—hugely human, enormously attractive.” —Newsweek“Not only readable, but dramatic.” —The New York Times Book Review“A buoyant, energizing book.” —The Nation“Brilliant.” —Publishers Weekly