Walking in Berlin: a flaneur in the capital

Name: Walking in Berlin: a flaneur in the capital
Brand: Penguin Random House NZ
SKU: 9781925321128
Price: 35.0 NZD
Availability: InStock

By Franz Hessel

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3.51

( 355 ratings, 64 reviews)

Summary

iWalking in Berlin: a flaneur in the capital by Franz Hessel offers a captivating exploration of Berlin during the 1920s through the eyes of a curious urban wanderer. It blends rich cultural observations with personal anecdotes, providing a portrait of the city’s vibrant streets and hidden corners. This travelogue captures the essence of Berlin’s dynamic atmosphere during a time of significant change and is a celebration of the art of flânerie.
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Format: Hardback

$35⁰⁰

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Walking in Berlin: a flaneur in the capital

$35⁰⁰

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?

This book may appeal to you if you have a fascination for exploring cities on foot, enjoying the sights, sounds, and stories of urban life. Set in the vibrant and dynamic environment of Berlin in the 1920s, it offers a unique perspective on the city's culture and history, providing both travellers and armchair adventurers a richly textured experience akin to wandering through the streets themselves.

Walking in Berlin: a flaneur in the capital

A timeless guide to one of the world's greatest cities.

Selling points* A beautiful small hardback ideal for tillpoints and gifting. * A book for readers of Walter Benjamin, Christopher Isherwood, and Stefan Zweig, and, in our time, Rebecca Solnit, Geoff Dyer and Iain Sinclair. * Available in English for the first time, this will do well in general bookstores, galleries, and stores with a political focus (A small-format limited edition of a couple of the essays in this book sold rapidly in Berlin, London, and New York).

Description

Franz Hessel was an observer par excellence of the increasingly hectic metropolis that was Berlin in the late 1920s. In Walking in Berlin, originally published in Germany in 1929, he captures the rhythm of Weimar-era Berlin, recording evidence of the seismic shifts shaking German culture at the time.

Nearly all of the pieces take the form of a walk or outing, focusing either on a theme or part of the city, and many end at a theatre, cinema, or club. Hessel effortlessly weaves historical information into his observations, displaying his extensive knowledge of the city. Today, many years after the Nazi era and the postwar reconstruction that followed, the areas he visited are all still prominent and interesting.

From the Alexanderplatz to Kreuzberg, his record of them has become priceless. Superbly written, and as fresh today as when it first appeared, this is a book to be savoured.

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?

Walking in Berlin: A Flaneur in the Capital is praised as a masterful work of spontaneous observation, capturing the essence of 1920s Berlin. It is considered a newly rediscovered treasure and hailed as an unparalleled travel guide to the city. The book stands as a walking remembrance, encapsulating the spirit of the time, with Hessel being an indispensable figure for understanding that era.

Book Details

INFORMATION

ISBN: 9781925321128

Publisher: Scribe Publications

Format: Hardback

Date Published: 05 December 2016

Country: Australia

Imprint: Scribe Publications

Audience: General / adult

DIMENSIONS

Spine width: 25.0mm

Width: 137.0mm

Height: 204.0mm

Weight: 346g

Pages: 240

Collections

Franz Hessel Non-Fiction Penguin Books Travel & Adventure

About the Author

Franz Hessel was born in 1880 to a Jewish banking family, and grew up in Berlin. After studying in Munich, he lived in Paris, moving in artistic circles in both cities. His relationship with the fashion journalist Helen Grund was the inspiration for Henri-Pierre Roche's novel and, later, Francois Truffaut's film Jules et Jim. Their son StUphane went on to become a diplomat and author of the worldwide bestselling Indignez-Vous! (Time for Outrage!). He also co-translated Proust with Walter Benjamin, as well as works by Casanova, Stendhal, and Balzac. Franz Hessel died in early 1941, shortly after his release from an internment camp.