Walter Benjamin. Über Städte und Architekturen
[Walter Benjamin. On Cities and Architecture]

Not only did the philosopher, cultural theorist, and author Walter Benjamin (1892–1940) travel frequently, but he also resided in different places for extended periods of time, from Paris, Marseilles, Naples, Capri, and Ibiza to Moscow and Riga. Starting in 1925, he reflected his observations in essays and reports which he wrote for various newspapers and magazines. He focused on the question of how people coexist in constructed environments, especially in public squares and streets. These city portraits are among Benjamin’s most famous texts. This volume brings all of them together for the first time. They are illustrated by numerous post cards that Benjamin either collected or sent to his friends. Editorial comments contextualize these texts and images. In an afterword, editor Detlev Schöttker explores the role of architecture and urban life in Benjamin’s thought and writing.