on travel in America published in the past twenty-five years by
English authors, the present writer has not a moment’s hesitation in
declaring that _With Poor Emigrants to America_ is immeasurably the
best among them all. It is not only an unusually informative book;
it is a work of spiritual genius, precious by reason of its
revelation of as unique and beautiful a character as surely has
dignified the trade of letters since the period of Lamb or
Goldsmith. Stephen Graham is something far more rare than an
‘interpreter of Russia’ or a philosophical ‘tramp’; his quiet voice,
if he be spared, is likely to sound even more distinctively and more
impressively above the noisy chatter of his contemporaries. It is
perhaps a little unfortunate that his interest should be so much
engaged with Russia, for we grudge to Russia an expositor who, we
think, might be better employed in writing about his own race, but
then we must admit that but for the influence of Russia we might
perhaps have had no Stephen Graham.”
_SPECTATOR._—“An extremely interesting record, with many penetrating
illustrations of the contrast between Russian and American ideals.”
_FIELD._—“The book is full of Mr. Graham’s philosophy, but that
philosophy largely reveals itself in the narration of his
experiences both on board ship and on land. They are narrated with
an abundance of anecdotes and with a charming simplicity of style
which make the book delightful reading.”
_LIVERPOOL POST._—“This is a book of sheer delight which will compel
most readers to finish it at a single sitting. It tells his story in
the free and effortless style which Mr. Graham uses so magically.”
LINDSAY BASHFORD in the _DAILY MAIL_.—“The best of his books. Mr.
Graham is the modern poet-pilgrim; his is the vision of wide roads
and long deliberate journeys; his the gift to understand the heart
of the poor and the wanderers. Each day’s little events, each casual
encounter, each wayside talk or tiny adventure has its deeper
significance, and resolves into the deeper human movements he seeks
for as he goes, and which he interprets for us. I do not know of any
books of contemporaries which have a more intimate appeal, which
speak with more friendly confidence of the actual life of human
beings in our world to-day than do these wonder-books of Mr. Stephen
Graham.”
LONDON: MACMILLAN AND CO., LTD.
By STEPHEN GRAHAM
A TRAMP’S SKETCHES
Extra Crown 8vo. 5s. net.
_ACADEMY._—“To have read _A Tramp’s Sketches_ is to have been lifted
into a higher and rarer atmosphere. It is to have been made free,
for a few hours at least, of the company of saints and heroes. This
much we owe to Mr. Graham, who has added to English Literature a
book that, if we mistake not, is destined to endure.”
_SPECTATOR._—“Like Jefferies’ _Story of my Heart_, but the author is
much more occupied with men than Jefferies was. Unlike most books of
its kind _A Tramp’s Sketches_ has indisputably a genuine passion
running through it.”
_ENGLISH REVIEW._—“It is a delightful book, redolent of the open
air, of the night, of the great silences of expanse, and yet full of
incident, of real spiritual and material sympathy, both with the
‘black earth’ and the monks of the monasteries, whose hospitality he
enjoyed, and with his fellow-comrades on the road. It is life that
interests the author.”
_PALL MALL GAZETTE._—“Descriptions of Nature are apt to become
tiresome, but we have not been wearied once in reading these pages;
and this is not, we believe, altogether due to Mr. Graham’s fine
style, his ever-adequate perception of the right word, but because
of his sincere and absolute love of Nature in all her moods. Here is
no pretence, no make-believe. He writes of the mystery and beauty of
the sea, the night, the sunset, the moon, and the stars in words
that seem at times to take colour from that which they describe.”
Mr. ALGERNON BLACKWOOD in _COUNTRY LIFE_.—“They are the notes of a
spiritual pilgrim going towards the new Jerusalem. The writer’s
passionate worship of Beauty, his love of simplicity, his charity,
his courage, all these make a strong appeal. He has in him poetry
and vision.”
Mr. WM. PURVIS in the _SUNDAY CHRONICLE_.—“Stephen Graham walks the
earth in the garb of beggary, and sees unusual types and meets
incredible men and women and analyses his emotions, and worships the
Great Spirit in vague fashions; and writes excellently about it all.
He wishes there were more like him; and so do I.”
_DAILY NEWS._—“This robust book, a classic of educated yet wild
vagabondage.”
_LIVERPOOL COURIER._—“Mr. Graham found pleasure, even joy
everywhere, and he has an almost inspired faculty for making the
reader see things as he sees them.”
_THE QUEEN._—“The whole book is full of beautiful things.”
_IRISH TIMES._—“Not a chapter, scarcely a page, which cannot be
re-read with profit and delight.”
_GLASGOW HERALD._—“Told in language that is always adequate and
luminous.”
LONDON: MACMILLAN AND CO., LTD.
● Transcriber’s Notes:
○ Text that was in italics is enclosed by underscores (_italics_).
Text that was in bold face is enclosed by equals signs (=bold=).
○ Footnotes have been moved to follow the chapters in which they are
referenced.