What is life, if, full of care ...? The life of Supertramp W H Davies
John Roberts
- Region:
- Anywhere
- Notice Period:
- Short (maybe less than one month's notice)
- Type:
- Hobby
- Fee:
- Paid: 40.00
- Category:
- Humanities
- Updated:
- 25th October 2022
- Tagged:
- Biography. Edwardians. | Wales. | Poetry.
Who wrote these well-known lines? W H Davies, born in Newport 1871, picture framer and boyo, who went to USA aged 22; worked on Atlantic cattle ships, and rode the rails as a hobo before losing a leg.
Then was a tramp in England and Wales, also living in workhouses, writing poems and attempting self-publishing. After an autobiography, Adventures of a Supertramp, was praised by George Bernard Shaw, Davies became one of the most popular poets of the time and a minor literary celebrity, who knew Huxley, Rupert Brooke, D H Lawrence, Augustus John, R S Thomas. Davies wrote many volumes of nature poetry and autobiography.
WHD died in Nailsworth, Gloucestershire in 1940. An illustrated account of his extraordinary life.
Views: 530 | Enquiries: 7About John Roberts
I have lived and worked in Newport, where Davies was born and now live near Nailsworth, where he died. I have taught in every sector of education apart from special schools, and done quite a bit of other stuff, too.
Regarding Stanley, I simply find the man complex and fascinating. What a life! It seems to me he has been unfairly disowned, to enable us to avoid the issues and questions that his life raises. But my talk isn't heavy - it's a tale of adventure, courage, an unbreakable will, and achievement.
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