But Bryant believed focusing on walking had the potential to shine new light on the transformations of the nineteenth century. Most academic literature on walking focuses on it as a contemplative activity, something associated with philosophical inquiry and artistic ventures. The idea of studying walking came to Bryant and Readman after, fittingly enough, a walk. It asks not only how various practices of walking emerged throughout the nineteenth century but how these practices, and the meaning that people attached to them, can provide original insights on themes central to modern history, such as the emergence of capitalist labor, civil society and politically charged boundaries. The book’s 11 essays explore the role and experience of walking in locales as diverse as India, Hungary, Russia and Great Britain. Chad Bryant, associate professor of history at UNC-Chapel Hill, Arthur Burns, professor of modern British history at King’s College London, and Paul Readman, professor of modern British history at King’s College London, served as editors of the collection. 1800 to 1914), co-sponsored by strategic partners King’s College London and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, has resulted in a book of essays titled Walking Histories: 1800-1914 (Palgrave MacMillan, 2016). A collaborative effort between historians on both sides of the Atlantic is looking to fill in this gap the academic literature.Ī 2013 conference on human locomotion during the long nineteenth century (ca.

The humble act of walking is fundamental to humankind, but as a historical subject walking has received little scholarly attention.

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