Book Description Drawn from intimate interviews with 14 modern-day "steel rail nomads," ONE MORE TRAIN TO RIDE provides a revealing picture of today's American hobo. Interspersed with their stories are original poems and songs echoing the ancient lyricism and loneliness of life on the road. Their connections with the past make the experiences of these hoboes even more striking, as they ride freight trains and jungle up in hobo camps, light years away from the 21st-century cyberworld--yet touching the very core of American freedom and individualism.
Cliff Williams skillfully elicits details of family background, motives, and clear insights into the daily life and philosophy of the modern hobo. With its evocative link to the past, ONE MORE TRAIN TO RIDE continues a long tradition of books on hobo oral history, including Nels Anderson's THE HOBO (1923) and Thomas Minehan's BOY AND GIRL TRAMPS OF AMERICA (1934).
Customer Reviews:
An absolute gemFebruary 13, 2004 6 out of 7 found this review helpful
For anyone interested in this fascinating area of Americana, Cliff "Oats" Williams book is a must-read. The testimonials of real-life hoboes and train-tramps are poignant and illuminating. "Oats" is an insider to this engaging subculture -- and an insider with a finely-tuned ear and well-earned sensitivity. It is the best compilation of its sort currently in print.
