Reveries of the Solitary Walker'These hours of solitude and meditation are the only time of the day when I am completely myself' Reveries of the Solitary Walker is Rousseau's last great work, the product of his final years of exile from the society that condemned his political and religious views. Returning to Paris the philosopher determines to keep a faithful record of the thoughts and ideas that come to him on his perambulations. Part reminiscence, part reflection, enlivened by anecdote and encounters, the Reveries form a kind of sequel to his Confessions, but they are more introspective and less defensive: Rousseau finds happiness in solitude, walks in nature, botanizing, and meditation. Writing an account of his walks becomes a means of achieving self-knowledge and safeguarding for himself the pleasure that others, he is convinced, seek to deny him. The Reveries, shaped by the unmediated nature of Rousseau's thought processes, give powerfully lyrical expression to a painfully tortured soul in search of peace. This new translation is accompanied by an introduction and notes that explore the nature of the work and its historical, literary, and intellectual contexts. ABOUT THE SERIES: For over 100 years Oxford World's Classics has made available the widest range of literature from around the globe. Each affordable volume reflects Oxford's commitment to scholarship, providing the most accurate text plus a wealth of other valuable features, including expert introductions by leading authorities, helpful notes to clarify the text, up-to-date bibliographies for further study, and much more. |
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able affections amongst ation better Bois de Boulogne Book botany charming Confessions d’Alembert d’Ormoy David Hume delightful destiny Discourse on Inequality Émile enjoy Essays everything fate fear feel felt Fifth Walk flâneur Geneva give happen happy harm hatred heart hope human ideas Île de St imagination inclinations indifference Isère island Jean-Jacques Rousseau judgements kind laserpitium less living longer look Madame Madame Geoffrin meditation men’s Ménilmontant mind misfortunes Monsieur Montaigne Montaigne’s Montmollin moral Môtiers nature Neuchâtel never one’s Oratorians Oxford pain Paris passion peace persecutors person plants pleasure promeneur solitaire reason Rêveries du promeneur ring of Gyges Robella Rousseau’s Reveries seek self-love sense Social Contract society Solitary Walker solitude soon soul St Pierre suffering sweet tell Thérèse Levasseur things thought tion true truth turn whole writing