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The Art of Wandering

The Writer as Walker
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( 88 ratings, 13 reviews)
Book Hero Magic crafted this summary to help describe this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Summary
The Art of Wandering by Merlin Coverley explores the concept of wandering through a philosophical and psychological lens. The book delves into the historical, cultural, and literary aspects of flΓ’nerie and psychogeography, examining how aimless strolling through urban landscapes can facilitate introspection and creativity. It provides a thoughtful examination of the transformative power of wandering and its impact on the mind and spirit.
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Format: Paperback / softback
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Book Hero Magic created this recommendation. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! IS THIS YOUR NEXT READ?

You might enjoy this exploration of the concept of wandering through various philosophical and psychological lenses. The book delves into the history and art of aimless walking and how it influences creative thought, making it perfect for those fascinated by the relationship between movement and mind. If you appreciate thought-provoking journeys into the human psyche and cultural history, this book may be a captivating read for you.

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The Art of Wandering is a history of that curious hybrid, the writer as walker. From the Ancient world to the modern day, the role of the walker continues to evolve, from philosopher and pilgrim, vagrant and visionary, to experimentalist and radical. Newly revised and updated edition. ...

Book Hero Magic formatted this description to make it easier to read. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Description

The Art of Wandering is a history of that curious hybrid, the writer as walker. From the Ancient world to the modern day, the role of the walker continues to evolve, from philosopher and pilgrim, vagrant and visionary, to experimentalist and radical. From Rousseau and De Quincey to Virginia Woolf and Werner Herzog, this seemingly innocuous activity has inspired a literary tradition encompassing philosophy and poetry, the novel and the manifesto.

Today, this figure has returned to the forefront of the public imagination, as writers and walkers follow in the footsteps of earlier generations. For the walker is once again on the march, seeking out new territory and recording new impressions of the landscape.

Newly revised and updated, The Art of Wandering explores these adventures on foot. Every walk can be expressed as a story narrated by the walker; it is these stories and the lives of those who walked them which are examined here.

'Coverley's approach is an enlightening one. Covering an astounding amount of material, both well-known and cult writers feature with equal prominence' - Huffington Post

'Splendid, scholarly and suffused with evocative stories and biographical sketches' - Booklist

'A brisk history of why and in what ways writers have walked' - Evening Standard

Book Hero Magic summarised reviews for this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! HOW HAS THIS BEEN REVIEWED?

The Art of Wandering by Merlin Coverley is praised for exploring how walking has inspired writers throughout history. It provides an insightful history on the topic, featuring both famous and lesser-known authors. The book is recognised for its enlightening approach, weaving together evocative stories, biographical sketches, and historical significance, offering both pleasure and diversion.

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Book Details

INFORMATION

ISBN: 9780857305374

Publisher: Oldcastle Books Ltd

Format: Paperback / softback

Date Published: 19 October 2022

Country: United Kingdom

Imprint: Oldcastle Books Ltd

Audience: General / adult

DIMENSIONS

Width: 129.0mm

Height: 198.0mm

Weight: 250g

Pages: 256

About the Author

Merlin Coverley is the author of seven books: London Writing, Psychogeography, Occult London, Utopia, The Art of Wandering, South and Hauntology. He lives in London.

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  • Psychogeography
    Psychogeography. In recent years this term has been used to illustrate a bewildering array of ideas from ley lines and the occult, to urban walking and political radicalism. But where does it come from and what exactly does it mean? This book examines the origins of psychogeography in the Paris of the 1950s, exploring the theoretical background and its political...
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  • South
    The South has long since cast its spell on our collective imagination. Writers and artists, from Goethe and Poe, to Gauguin, Lawrence and Kerouac, were captivated by it. Landscapes of ice and snow, sand and sea, have lured explorers southwards for centuries, often with fatal consequences. South explores the idea of the South, following in the footsteps of Cook, Scott,...
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