A Handy Guide for Beggars, Especially Those of the Poetic Fraternity
Nicholas Vachel Lindsay
Read by Nicholas Vachel Lindsay
"Being sundry explorations, made while afoot and penniless in Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, Tennessee, Kentucky, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania. These adventures convey and illustrate the rules of beggary for poets and some others."
Published in 1919, this is poet Vachel Lindsay's description of his travels "afoot and penniless" across the southern and eastern United States, staying with strangers, reciting or trading poetry for dinner, and along the way, describing in stories and poetry, mostly stories, the people and places he encountered. Think "Travels With Charlie," minus the dog and the Winnebago, and much, much earlier.
From the Dedication and Preface:
"There are one hundred new poets in the villages of the land. This Handy Guide is dedicated to the younger sons of the wid earth, to the runnaway boys and girls getting further from home every hour, to the prodigals still wasting their substance in riotous living, be they gamblers or blasphemers or plain drunks; to the heretics of whatever school to whom life is a rebellion with banners; to those who are willing to accept counsel if it be mad counsel."
If you remember the 1960's, you'll feel right at home. If you wish you remembered the 1890's, here's your chance. You might also feel right at home, at that.
This book comes from Scribl.com. Visit Scribl to support the author or learn how to self-publish your own audiobook.
Chapters
Reviews
By: Grizzly Smith
Thanks for the kind words. Just listening again to the first chapter, myself. Starts out kinda slow, I admit -- and I know how it ends. He was a poet, after all. Hang in there, folks, get past the poetry, and the stories are kinda funny, and sentimental. I had ...
By: psionandy
Just listening to this, one episode at a time so unlike Grizzly I don't know how it ends yet. However what I do know is that the book is beautifuly read, the stories and fun and Its shown me a glimpse into a time and place that I knew nothing ...
By: David Grizzly Smith
This was one of the first books I recorded, and like most podcasters, I do cringe a bit listening -- This could have been much better in spots. Shouldn't have done those exceedingly long intros, for example. The book is a good one, and there are parts that are _just_ ...
By: Grizzly Smith
You're welcome. Ya know, PodioRacket wanted me to record something explaining why I record PD books for Podiobooks.com. Now I have an answer. Griz