What Is the Grass: Walt Whitman in My Life
SKU: 80820814802

What Is the Grass: Walt Whitman in My Life

Sale price$19.85 Regular price$22.06
Save 10%

Shipping Estimate
USA
  • USA
  • CAN

Ships within 48 hours · Estimated delivery Jul 6 - Jul 11

Promo Codes Available:

For Your Every Summer RSVP, with Code: SUMMER15

Description

What Is the Grass: Walt Whitman in My LifeMark Doty has always felt haunted by Walt Whitman's bold, perennially new American voice, and by his equally radical claims about body and soul and what it means to be a self. In What Is the Grass, Doty a poet, a New Yorker, and an American keeps company with Whitman and his Leaves of Grass, tracing the resonances between his own experience and the legendary poet's life and work. What is it then between us? Whitman asks. In search of an answer, Doty

Mark Doty has always felt haunted by Walt Whitman's bold, perennially new American voice, and by his equally radical claims about body and soul and what it means to be a self. In What Is the Grass, Doty--a poet, a New Yorker, and an American--keeps company with Whitman and his Leaves of Grass, tracing the resonances between his own experience and the legendary poet's life and work.

What is it then between us? Whitman asks. In search of an answer, Doty explores spaces--both external and internal--where he finds the poet's ghost. He meditates on desire, love, and the mysterious wellsprings of the poet's enduring work: a radical experience of transformation and enlightenment, queer sexuality, and an obsession with death, as well as unabashed love for a great city and for the fresh, rowdy character of American speech. In riveting close readings threaded with personal memoir and illuminated by awe, Doty reveals the power of Whitman's persistent presence in his life and in the American imagination at large.

How does a voice survive death? What Is the Grass is a conversation across time and space, a study of the astonishment one poet finds in the accomplishment of another, and an attempt to grasp Whitman's deeply hopeful vision of human possibility.



Binding Type: Hardcover
Publisher: W. W. Norton & Company
Published: 04/14/2020
ISBN: 9780393070224
Pages: 288
Weight: 0.95lbs
Size: 8.40h x 5.60w x 1.20d

Review Citations: Library Journal Prepub Alert 11/01/2019 pg. 65
Kirkus Reviews 01/15/2020
Library Journal 02/01/2020 pg. 86
Shipping Notes
  • Free Standard Shipping on $100+ Orders to the USA.
  • Except Preorder products are shipped in 48 hours.
  • Delivery to the USA:
  1. Standard Shipping : 3-10 business days
  • If time is of the essence, please consider selecting expedited delivery for faster service.
Exchange/Return Notes
  • We offer a 30-day return/exchange service after receiving.
  • Final sale items are not eligible for returns or exchanges.
  • To process your return/exchange, please contact us at [email protected]
  • Please click here for more details>>> Return & Exchange Policy
SKU: 80820814802

Discover Niche Categories That Outsell

Top-Converting Item to Boost Your Average Order

4.8 ★★★★★
Based on 1106 reviews
Sort
Highest Rating
Newest First
Oldest First
Product Reviews
S
Verified Purchase
sleepywan
Bozeman, US
★★★★★ 3
OK for the price, but overall comfort is avergae
Size: 934-Z, Color: Mustard
Easy to put together, color (mustard) accurate to images, and while I understand this is not a high-end chair, I feel like it still needs to be rated for its quality. Pros: the seat cushions are fairly comfortable and it rolls well. Adjustable footrest is easy enough and mostly sturdy. Cons: For a tall office chair, it doesn't go up high enough. I actually had to lower my standing desk to sit at it, which then isn't where I want it when I'm standing now. It's also a bit wobbly. The seat area's attachment to the post isn't as solid as it should be for a tall chair, so while sitting, it does tend to lean/slope forward and wobble side to side. The lumbar support is not adjustable, so I'm not even really sure what it does. And the armrests are not very comfortable to use. Since they are hard plastic, they are just a bit too rigid to rely on for any comfort. They are basically there to hold on to when you're getting out of the chair.
WAS THIS REVIEW HELPFUL?YesReportShare
Reviewed in the United States on May 29, 2026
M
Verified Purchase
Mel
Omaha, US
★★★★★ 4
Good Value for a Tall Chair
Size: 934W-Z, Color: White
I have received this chair just today and would like to give my first impressions of it. Height is super adjustable as well as the foot rest. My desk is very tall (~34 inches vs standard ~29 inches) and does not suit a standard height chair. This chair's height is enough to sit comfortably at mybut also still having adjustment to be even higher. Lumbar support is a manual adjustment that can be adjusted by sliding the lumbar piece up or down and it seems it can be tiled as well. No reclining feature or slight backrest tilt adjustment. I'm used to my chairs reclining so it feels a little awkward siting in a flat base and straight backrest. I feel like I'm sitting too forward or leaning forward slightly but is probably something I can get use to. Easy to put together and feels very sturdy. Plastic parts of chair are made from a really sturdy plastic, like playhouse plastic materials. Wheels roll around carpet easily. Mesh seems to be a strong material, though the mesh feels kind itchy on bare skin. Overall, I think this is a good chair to get if you're needing a tall chair for a good value and can sacrifice no backrest tilt.
WAS THIS REVIEW HELPFUL?YesReportShare
Reviewed in the United States on December 3, 2025
T
Verified Purchase
Tram
Bozeman, US
★★★★★ 5
Excellent value for money!
Size: 934W-Z, Color: Black, Size: 934W-Z, Color: Black
I absolutely love this office chair! I needed a chair that could support my standing desk without sacrificing comfort, and this one completely exceeded my expectations. It's incredibly sturdy and durable, well-made, and the height adjustment is super convenient, making it easy to find the perfect fit. Even during long hours of work, the seat is comfortable, and the ergonomic design effectively reduces pressure on my back and legs. I love its clean, modern look—it fits my home office perfectly. Assembly was quick and easy, and for this price, the quality is absolutely fantastic!
WAS THIS REVIEW HELPFUL?YesReportShare
Reviewed in the United States on February 24, 2026
L
Verified Purchase
Lisa Bjornstad
Los Angeles, US
★★★★★ 5
Perfect chair!
Size: 934-Z, Color: Blue, Size: 934-Z, Color: Blue
I have an adjustable-height desk (also purchased from Amazon) and needed a drafting chair for those times when my body gets tired of standing. This chair fits the bill and then some! I put it together myself; it took me about an hour, but would take me about half that next time, since now I know what to do (and what NOT to do!). All the parts were there; there are even spare parts (see photo). All the holes were drilled in exactly the right places, too, which isn't always the case when I buy things from Amazon (my standing desk is a great example). The chair fits me; I'm short (5'3.5"), and often the seats of furniture are too deep for me to rest my feet flat on the floor. The depth of the seat on this chair is just a little over 18 inches, and with the adjustable footrest ring, it's perfect. I don't think a tall or heavy person would fit in it, to be honest. But it's perfect for those of us who are vertically challenged. I love that it glides easily on my hardwood floors and that it turns 360 degrees. The chair comes in numerous luscious colors, so take your pick! It is very sturdy, has good lumbar support, and the seat and seat back are very comfortable. And the arms flip up, which was an absolute must when I was shopping for this chair. I got it on sale, too -- $109.00 -- and I'm delighted with this purchase.
WAS THIS REVIEW HELPFUL?YesReportShare
Reviewed in the United States on April 23, 2026
P
Verified Purchase
PenLady
Dallas, US
★★★★★ 5
Excellent adjustable drafting chair
Size: 934-Z, Color: Blue
Excellent chair design, extremely comfortable and exceptionally easy instructions to follow making for simple assembly. Love the amply wide cushioned seat and ergonomic backrest. The height adjustment feature works perfectly as well as positioning of the foot ring . Having the ability to raise the arms is also a big plus! I highly recommend this product for attractive appearance, comfort features, functionality and operation. Really nice chair!
WAS THIS REVIEW HELPFUL?YesReportShare
Reviewed in the United States on April 13, 2026

recommand products