Flâneuse
Author: Lauren Elkin
Published by: Vintage
Pages: 317
Format: Paperback
My Rating ★★★★★
Published by: Vintage
Pages: 317
Format: Paperback
My Rating ★★★★★
If the word flâneur conjures up visions of Baudelaire, boulevards and bohemia – then what exactly is a flaneuse?
In this gloriously provocative and celebratory book, Lauren Elkin defines her as ‘a determined resourceful woman keenly attuned to the creative potential of the city, and the liberating possibilities of a good walk’.
From New York to Paris, Tokyo to London, Elkin explores the paths taken by the flâneuses who have lived and walked there. From novelists George Sand and Virginia Woolf to filmmaker Agnès Varda and war correspondent Martha Geilhorn, Flâneuse considers what is at stake when a certain kind of light-footed woman encounters the city and changes her life, one step at a time.
In this gloriously provocative and celebratory book, Lauren Elkin defines her as ‘a determined resourceful woman keenly attuned to the creative potential of the city, and the liberating possibilities of a good walk’.
From New York to Paris, Tokyo to London, Elkin explores the paths taken by the flâneuses who have lived and walked there. From novelists George Sand and Virginia Woolf to filmmaker Agnès Varda and war correspondent Martha Geilhorn, Flâneuse considers what is at stake when a certain kind of light-footed woman encounters the city and changes her life, one step at a time.
My thoughts:
Raised in New York and now a Paris resident, Lauren Elkin has always felt at home in cities. Here she traces how women writers and artists have made the world’s great cities their own, blending memoir, social history, and literary criticism.
My favourite flânerie, I think, is about looking outward: observing others, watching the buildings and the streets. Elkin's book seems to be primarily about how much she loves France, and I admittedly found this more interesting than the memoir parts of the book, where the author writes at length about an unpleasant boyfriend that she had.
The book meanders from city to city. Elkin presents much on the history of women walking in Paris and London, although not much on New York. One woman, George Sand (she changed her name), during the mid-1800’s dressed as a man to be less conspicuous in the street.
There were many wonderful observations on the joys of city-walking from a woman’s perspective. Most of it is takes place in Paris, a city where I myself have walked. I liked the chapters about Paris the most, especially concerning the films of Agnès Varda whose work I studied during my film degree.
Flâneuse reminded me of why cities are such remarkable places to live, it got me consciously walking, exploring, and considering my surroundings more than ever. This elegant book considers defiant female walkers and celebrates the freedom of being on the move. Very enjoyable.
Overall reaction:
Raised in New York and now a Paris resident, Lauren Elkin has always felt at home in cities. Here she traces how women writers and artists have made the world’s great cities their own, blending memoir, social history, and literary criticism.
My favourite flânerie, I think, is about looking outward: observing others, watching the buildings and the streets. Elkin's book seems to be primarily about how much she loves France, and I admittedly found this more interesting than the memoir parts of the book, where the author writes at length about an unpleasant boyfriend that she had.
The book meanders from city to city. Elkin presents much on the history of women walking in Paris and London, although not much on New York. One woman, George Sand (she changed her name), during the mid-1800’s dressed as a man to be less conspicuous in the street.
There were many wonderful observations on the joys of city-walking from a woman’s perspective. Most of it is takes place in Paris, a city where I myself have walked. I liked the chapters about Paris the most, especially concerning the films of Agnès Varda whose work I studied during my film degree.
Flâneuse reminded me of why cities are such remarkable places to live, it got me consciously walking, exploring, and considering my surroundings more than ever. This elegant book considers defiant female walkers and celebrates the freedom of being on the move. Very enjoyable.
Overall reaction: