Global Whitman Fellowship
Whitman Weekend in Bolton and Manchester UK, 2026
Afoot and light-hearted I take to the open road,
Healthy, free, the world before me,
The long brown path before me leading wherever I choose…
The Walt Whitman Initiative invites you to take part in a literary tradition that dates back to 1887: the annual Whitman Walk through the Lancashire countryside! The poet’s first fan club, known as the Eagle Street College and later the Walt Whitman Fellowship, initiated the Walk after writing a devotional letter to Whitman, whom they recognized as a spiritual leader… and Walt wrote back! Though he never visited, Whitman has had an enduring presence in the UK’s industrial center, where young progressives saw hope and light in Whitman’s “Democratic Vistas.”
This year, the Whitman Initiative joins the Bolton Socialist Club and Whitman’s many UK fans to offer a series of events around the time-honored walk.
The Walt Whitman Initiative invites you to take part in a literary tradition that dates back to 1887: the annual Whitman Walk through the Lancashire countryside! The poet’s first fan club, known as the Eagle Street College and later the Walt Whitman Fellowship, initiated the Walk after writing a devotional letter to Whitman, whom they recognized as a spiritual leader… and Walt wrote back! Though he never visited, Whitman has had an enduring presence in the UK’s industrial center, where young progressives saw hope and light in Whitman’s “Democratic Vistas.”
This year, the Whitman Initiative joins the Bolton Socialist Club and Whitman’s many UK fans to offer a series of events around the time-honored walk.
Afternoon
Evening
Morning
“With Walt Whitman in Bolton, 1887 – 2026: A Celebration in Film and Art”
with Andrew Dolan, Bonnie Hosey, Karen Karbiener, Ella Thrush, and Jules Vermeeren
Bolton Museum and Library, 10am – 12pm
Afternoon
Whitman Walkers through the ages:
Whitman Walkers through the ages:
Whitman Walkers through the ages:
