American poet, essayist and journalist Walter “Walt” Whitman was born on May 31, 1819.  A humanist, he was a part of the transition between transcendentalism and realism, incorporating both views in his works. Whitman is among the most influential poets in the American canon, often called the father of free verse. His work was very controversial in its time, particularly his poetry collection Leaves of … Continue reading Walt Whitman