The Autobiography of a Super-tramp by W H Davies

[Janet]

 

The Autobiography of a Super-tramp by W H Davies

 

The ‘blurb’

” Poet William Henry Davies was born in a pub and learnt early in life to rely on his wits and his fists - and to drink. Around the turn of the century when he was twenty-two, his restless spirit of adventure led him to set off for America, and he worked around the country, taking casual jobs where he could, thieving and begging where he couldn't. His experiences were richly coloured by thebullies, tricksters and fellow-adventurers he encountered. He was thrown into prison in Michigan, beaten up in New Orleans, witnessed a lynching in Tennessee, and got drunk pretty well everywhere. A harrowing accident forced him to return to England and the seedy world of doss-houses and down-and-outs like Boozy Bob and Irish Tim.

 

Davies’ father died when he was just two years old, and when his mother remarried she left the children with their maternal Grandparents. Davies got into trouble with a street gang and left school and his Grandmother got him an apprenticeship with a picture framer.

 

After Davies had served his apprenticeship, he knew that framing was not something he wished to pursue - he wanted to be a writer - and so in 1893 he left for London. After tramping round the country and staying at various boarding houses, he set sail for America, intending to find work, but such work didn’t materialise and so he spent most of his time travelling from one city to another (sometimes in the company of other down-and-outs, sometimes alone) begging in order to survive. Several times he worked his passage on cattle ships between America and Britain.

 

He returned to Britain intending to settle, but on hearing of the Klondike gold rush he set off for Canada to ‘seek his fortune’. A fateful accident when he tried to board a moving train caused his foot to be crushed, and eventually his leg was amputated. He returned to Britain again and wrote poetry and short stories. After little success, he eventually had the break he was longing for and a collection of poems was published, leading to other works.

 

This book is in the style of Orwell’s Down and Out in Paris and London, (published and taking place in a later period) which I really enjoyed. I picked it up because I like the group Supertramp (who took their name from this book), and also because it was recommended to me by someone on here because of my enjoyment of the Orwell book.

 

Davies’ observational skills are good, but for me, the writing was much drier than Orwells and at times I found it a bit of a chore. That said, I am glad I read it, but for me, Down and Out… was definitely the better read.

 

Davies is probably best know for his poem ‘Leisure’.

 

What is this life if, full of care,

We have no time to stand and stare.

No time to stand beneath the boughs

And stare as long as sheep or cows.

No time to see, when woods we pass,

Where squirrels hide their nuts in grass.

No time to see, in broad daylight,

Streams full of stars, like skies at night.

No time to turn at Beauty's glance,

And watch her feet, how they can dance.

No time to wait till her mouth can

Enrich that smile her eyes began.

A poor life this if, full of care,

We have no time to stand and stare.