The Joy of Walking

by Suzy Cripps (Editor)

Classic writers remind us to saunter, march, prowl and wander in this gorgeously curated collection of writing for the everyday walker.

Part of the Macmillan Collector’s Library, a series of stunning, clothbound, pocket-sized classics with gold-foiled edges and ribbon markers. These beautiful books make perfect gifts or a treat for any book lover. This edition is edited and introduced by Suzy Cripps.

Whether walking through awe-inspiring countryside or weaving your way through crowds in the hustle and bustle of great cities, we take thousands of steps a day. Finding meaning in movement can be difficult in today’s frenetic world. This may seem like a modern problem, but putting one foot in front of the other is something that authors have been writing about for centuries. Some like Gaskell, Wordsworth and Whitman extoll the virtues of walking in the countryside, be it on one’s own connecting with nature or as the means to really good conversation with friends. Others like Dickens and E. M. Forster explore the thrill and dangers of moving about the city, by day or by night. In T he Joy of Walking you’ll find a wealth of essays, poetry and fiction celebrating and exploring the joy of walking.

Genres: Nonfiction, Walking, Travel, Nature, Short Stories

224 pages, Hardcover

Published November 10, 2020

Reviews

[Sintija Buhanovska · Rating 5 out of 5]

Es esmu apsēsta ar staigāšanu. Es jūtos slikti, ja netieku izstaigāties. Pastaigas man ir vajadzīgas gluži kā skābeklis un ēdiens. Un nu - vai kāds vēl brīnīsies, kāpēc “The Joy of Walking” man tik ļoti patika? Nelieli fragmenti no dzejas, esejām, romāniem un stāstiem, kas parāda, ka autoriem un viņu radītajiem tēliem ir desmitiem dažādu iemeslu, kāpēc pastaigas ir būtiskas ikdienas ritmā. Jauka lasāmviela (arī brīžos, kad varbūt ne visur varam aizstaigāt).

[Betty-Lou · Rating 5 out of 5]

A tiny edition, it is just the perfect size to put in your purse/bag. Imagine sitting on a park bench, or on green grass and reading this book, which is definitely a breath of fresh air.

[Beata Rawdanowicz · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a lovely collection of extracts from known authors’ writings over the years, some appealed to me more than others but overall quite a relaxed need and most importantly, motivating me to continue and even expand my walking habit!

[Jane · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is a volume of collected works by various writers. The introduction mentions modern authors, like Robert Macfarlane or Rebecca Solnit, but this particular collection features authors from centuries past. I'm guessing that's because their work is now out of copyright.

I enjoy walking, so this was a great and thoughtful gift from a friend. I read it as an episodic book, picking it up every few days to read another author’s work. Since there’s no continuation from one piece to the next, it suits that style perfectly, as they all stand alone nicely.

That being said, only a few of the included fragments really inspired me to go and find out the rest of the original books, which is a bit of a shame. I did enjoy revisiting some classics I’ve read before, though, like Far from the Madding Crowd and Wuthering Heights.

As a physical book, it’s lovely to hold. It's a fairly small object, so the actual reading of it has been a tactile pleasure.