Rousseau's last great
work, Reveries of the Solitary Walker is a work of the French philosopher
who seeks to find happiness in solitude and nature. This
new translation is accompanied by an introduction that explores the nature of
the work and its historical and intellectual settings. Besides that this book is a compilation of the ten walks that Rousseau
undertook.
He
chose to live in Paris where he kept himself busy by gazing plants and day
dreaming. By writing an account of his
walks he becomes a means of achieving self-understanding and safeguarding for
himself the pleasure that others, he is convinced, seek to deny him.
Furthermore
Rousseau talks about his own self and the society around him. Two years before
his death Rousseau composed his writings which are now in this book. This book
shows the French writer’s alienation from the society at that time. He is in a
state of confusion where he has this feeling of discontentment towards the
society as he has been condemned
for his political and religious views. Throughout the book Rousseau looks back at his life and
tries to justify his actions. He tries to find solace and refuge from his
miseries.
One
could also consider it as a quest for self-understanding as he traces back all
the memories of his life when he had both contentment and pleasure in his life.
