"In wildness is the preservation of the world," noted Henry David Thoreau, whose famous epigram arose in "Walking," his meditation on the relationship between civilization and nature. The great American poet and philosopher's essay appears in this footloose compilation, a celebration of the freedom to roam, stroll, strut, and wander.
These reflections by distinguished writers range far and wide, from the hills and valleys of Thoreau's native New England to the shadowy streets and bridges of Charles Dickens’s nighttime London. In "Traveling Afoot," John Finley reminisces about memorable walks across the Scottish moors, around the riverbanks of Manhattan, and through the French countryside on the eve of the First World War. Max Beerbohm, in "Going Out for a Walk," laments being coaxed away from his comfortable armchair, and Christopher Morley confesses his passion for people-watching in "Sauntering." Other contributors include William Hazlitt, George Gissing, Hilaire Belloc, and Leslie Stephen. Charming woodcut illustrations complement the text.