| The Autobiography of a Super-Tramp | |
|---|---|
| Author(s) | William Henry Davies |
| Country | Wales |
| Language | English |
| Genre(s) | Autobiographical novel |
| Publisher | A. C. Fifield, London |
| Publication date | 1908 |
| Media type | Print (Hardcover) |
| ISBN | NA |
The Autobiography of a Super-Tramp (ISBN 0-7661-4674-X) is an autobiography published in 1908 by the Welsh poet and writer William Henry Davies (1871–1940). A large part of the book's subject matter described the way of life of the tramp in England, Canada and the United States of America at the time of migration and railway building.
George Bernard Shaw had become interested in Davies, a literary unknown at the time, and had agreed to write a preface for the book, largely through the concerted efforts of his wife Charlotte. It was only because of Shaw that Davies' contract with the publishers was re-written to allow the author to retain the serial rights, all rights after three years, royalties of fifteen per cent of selling price and a non-returnable advance of twenty five pounds. Davies was also to be given a say on the style of all illustrations, advertisement layouts and cover designs. The original publisher, Duckworth and Sons, refused to accept these demands and so the book was placed instead with Fifield. Shaw was also instrumental in keeping the unusual title of the book, of which Davies himself was unsure, and which later proved to be controversial with some reviewers.[1]
In the 1920 edition the book concludes with five poems selected by Davies from his first work The Soul's Destroyer.
On the official website of the British progressive rock band Supertramp, reviewer P. Robichaud credits Davies' book for the origin of the band's name.[2]
In the biography Into The Wild (1996), the protagonist Christopher McCandless renames himself "Alexander Supertramp" when he begins his journey.