...Some writers devoted much of their lives to revisiting a single book. Walt Whitman frequently amended "Leaves of Grass," softening or even deleting the earthy language and images of the first edition, published in 1855. William Wordsworth's classic autobiographical poem "The Prelude," first came out in 1799. He issued an expanded edition in 1805 and continued working on it for decades, with another version out in 1850.
When writers die, publishers often decide which text works best. Norton has released an edition of "The Prelude" that includes all three versions...

Hillel Italie Contra Costa Times Jul 31, 2003
sort of neutral piece sort of about Joyce Carol Oates' revision of Garden of Earthly Delights'