Walt Whitman published 4 non-fiction books, 1 children's book, 5 poetry collections and 3 other books, beginning with Leaves of Grass (1855).
Updated September 2026
Where to start with Walt Whitman
Non-fiction in order
Democratic Vistas and Other Papers (1871)
Memoranda During the War (1876)
Specimen Days in America (1882)
Autobiographia (1892)
Children's books in order
Specimen Days (1882)
Poetry in order
Leaves of Grass (1855)
Calamus (1860)
When Lilacs Last in the Dooryard Bloom'd (1865)
Drum-Taps (Oct 1865)
O Captain! My Captain! (1900)
Other books in order
Crossing Brooklyn Ferry (1867)
November Boughs (1888)
Complete Prose Works (1891)
Free to read
All free classics
About Walt Whitman
Walter Whitman Jr. was an American poet, essayist, and journalist; he also wrote two novels. He is considered one of the most influential poets in American literature and world literature. Whitman incorporated both transcendentalism and realism in his writings and is often called the father of free verse. His work was controversial in his time, particularly his 1855 poetry collection Leaves of Grass, which was described by some as obscene for its overt sensuality.
Biography from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0. Photo via Wikimedia Commons.
Walt Whitman FAQ
- How many books has Walt Whitman written?
- Walt Whitman published 4 non-fiction books, 1 children's book, 5 poetry collections and 3 other books that we list, as of September 2026.
- What order should I read Walt Whitman's books in?
- Publication order is a safe choice; the full list is above. Most readers start with Leaves of Grass.
- What is Walt Whitman's last book?
- Autobiographia (1892).
- What is Walt Whitman's most famous book?
- Leaves of Grass (1855) is Walt Whitman's most widely read book.
- Can I read Walt Whitman's books for free?
- Yes. 8 books by Walt Whitman are in the public domain in the US and free to read online or download here.
Authors like Walt Whitman
Sources: book lists and dates from Wikidata and Open Library, ratings from Open Library readers, free texts from Project Gutenberg. Last updated September 2026.