Rooted in Paris: the Joys of Strolling

A recent essay fit for the season + related reading recs!

For Virtuoso Magazine’s May/June issue, I was asked to write an essay reflecting on the joys of strolling, on the idea of the flâneur. The catch: I’d only have 500 words which is hardly enough to say much! Given that it’s a travel publication, the editors wanted me to incorporate more prescriptive elements (e.g. where to stroll, specifically) whereas I liked the idea of a more philosophical take. Either way, it came out great and it’s now circulating to subscribers. Below, you’ll find the full version, as it was before all the trims and tweaks. I’ve also concluded a with a few recommendations for ongoing reading on the Flâneur!

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We can trace a myriad of cultural innovations to Paris but perhaps one of the most uniquely French, with no sufficient equivalent in English, is the concept of the flâneur.