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Mauerweg: Stories From The Berlin Wall Trail
64 pages, Unknown Binding
First published November 3, 2014
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November 22, 2014
A pretty quick read, ideal for those interested in the geography of the Berlin Wall and how arbitrary that really was. Its format means it is a good and accessible keepsake - indeed, the publication was timely for the 25th anniversary of the Wall falling this month, and I attended the book launch where I heard extracts and ended up buying a copy.
Paul Scraton and Paul Sullivan respectively walked the edge of the Mauerweg, or Wall Trail, in an attempt to understand the city a bit more - in particular, how its fate was altered by this curious structure. The book debunks a few myths, too: for example, many people aren't aware that the Wall actually completely surrounded "capitalist fortress" West Berlin, instead of simply running a straight line between East and West Berlin.
Apart from the huge historical aspect, these essays are testimonies to the simple pleasure of walking alone - having the space to reflect, the increase likelihood that you will approach people and that they will be more receptive to you.
This passage on p.50 sums up how I frequently feel when I visit monuments to the Wall:
'It's not the first time on this walk I've felt this dissonance - the weight of the past colliding awkwardly with the unburdened present - and I realise it is an integral part of the Mauerweg experience. As I continue walking, I feel a deep gratitude and respect for the creators of the trail and its unflinching memorials, for the way in which they have anchored these stories to their rightful place and prevented them from being forgotten.'
Copies are available for €9.99 from the Slow Travel Berlin website: www.slowtravelberlin.com/shop/mauerwe...
Paul Scraton and Paul Sullivan respectively walked the edge of the Mauerweg, or Wall Trail, in an attempt to understand the city a bit more - in particular, how its fate was altered by this curious structure. The book debunks a few myths, too: for example, many people aren't aware that the Wall actually completely surrounded "capitalist fortress" West Berlin, instead of simply running a straight line between East and West Berlin.
Apart from the huge historical aspect, these essays are testimonies to the simple pleasure of walking alone - having the space to reflect, the increase likelihood that you will approach people and that they will be more receptive to you.
This passage on p.50 sums up how I frequently feel when I visit monuments to the Wall:
'It's not the first time on this walk I've felt this dissonance - the weight of the past colliding awkwardly with the unburdened present - and I realise it is an integral part of the Mauerweg experience. As I continue walking, I feel a deep gratitude and respect for the creators of the trail and its unflinching memorials, for the way in which they have anchored these stories to their rightful place and prevented them from being forgotten.'
Copies are available for €9.99 from the Slow Travel Berlin website: www.slowtravelberlin.com/shop/mauerwe...
Displaying 1 of 1 review