In the history of walking, many experts considering him (Wordsworth) the authentic originator of the long expedition. He was the first – at a time (the late eighteenth century) when walking was the lot of the poor, vagabonds and highwaymen, not to mention travelling showmen and pedlars – to conceive of the walk as a poetic act, a communion with Nature, fulfilment of the body, contemplation of the landscape. Christopher Morley wrote of him that he was ‘one of the first to use his legs in the service of philosophy’.

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Themes

  • Art — Creativity, expression, and the role of art in society
  • Beauty — Appreciating aesthetics, grace, and the sublime
  • Freedom — The value of liberty, independence, and self-determination
  • Nature — Appreciation for the natural world and our place within it
  • Peace — The pursuit of harmony, reconciliation, and inner calm
  • Philosophy — Deep thoughts on existence, knowledge, and the nature of reality
  • Poetry — The art of language, rhythm, and emotional expression

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