Bruce Bothwell

On the Tramp Bruce Bothwell

On the Tramp follows a young Ronald Ries Bothwell for ten years (1924-1933) as he lives the life of a hobo, trying to make his way in the world and living on the fringes of society from day to day. Ronald carried a small notebook with him at all times and kept a detailed history of his thoughts and his experiences of life on the road in the American West. At eighteen Ronald made the conscious decision to follow the railroad to wherever it went. Most people believe the 1920s were a time of plenty, but Ronald?s journals make it abundantly clear that in the era of the flapper, it was just as tough for the poor and unemployed as in The Great Depression. This book is a recreation of those tough times and follows Ronald from Iowa to Utah, to California, Montana, Washington, Oregon, Arizona, and back again. The author, Ronald?s son, has enhanced the narrative with dialogue, heightening scenes to detail the story without detracting from the truth. The narrative, much of it Ronald?s actual words, shows how hard life can be on the road, how difficult it is to get a meal, how miserable it is to ride an open freight car in the cold night, how cruel and kind people were to hobos, and how beautiful raw America was at that time. Anyone who wants new insights into life in Western America from 1924 to 1933 should read On the Tramp.