# W. Davies

## Biography

William Henry Davies was a Welsh poet and writer born in Newport in 1871. After a difficult childhood, losing his father young and being raised by his grandparents, he embarked on a life as a tramp, traveling extensively across the United States and the United Kingdom. During this period, he supported himself with casual labor and frequently crossed the Atlantic on cattle ships. A pivotal moment in his life occurred in 1899 when he lost his right foot in a train-hopping accident in Canada, necessitating an amputation. Returning to England, Davies began to focus on writing, self-publishing his first collection of poetry, "The Soul's Destroyer," in 1905. His memoir, "The Autobiography of a Super-Tramp" (1908), garnered significant attention, including a preface by George Bernard Shaw, solidifying his literary reputation. Davies's work often drew on his experiences as a wanderer, observing nature, rural life, and the hardships of the human condition, all expressed with a distinctive simplicity and force. He continued to write poetry throughout his life, becoming a popular figure known for his unique journey from tramp to celebrated poet. He died in 1940.

## Books

- [The Autobiography of a Super-Tramp](https://samolit.com/books/96154)