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Nach Norden, Strolch!
The Northing Tramp aka The Tramp
Paperback
First published January 1, 1926
5 people are currently reading
23 people want to read
About the author
Edgar Wallace
2,169 books260 followersRichard Horatio Edgar Wallace (1875-1932) was a prolific British crime writer, journalist and playwright, who wrote 175 novels, 24 plays, and countless articles in newspapers and journals.
Over 160 films have been made of his novels, more than any other author. In the 1920s, one of Wallace's publishers claimed that a quarter of all books read in England were written by him.
He is most famous today as the co-creator of "King Kong", writing the early screenplay and story for the movie, as well as a short story "King Kong" (1933) credited to him and Draycott Dell. He was known for the J. G. Reeder detective stories, The Four Just Men, the Ringer, and for creating the Green Archer character during his lifetime.
Over 160 films have been made of his novels, more than any other author. In the 1920s, one of Wallace's publishers claimed that a quarter of all books read in England were written by him.
He is most famous today as the co-creator of "King Kong", writing the early screenplay and story for the movie, as well as a short story "King Kong" (1933) credited to him and Draycott Dell. He was known for the J. G. Reeder detective stories, The Four Just Men, the Ringer, and for creating the Green Archer character during his lifetime.
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
March 29, 2013
2012 Review:
Ooh, boy.
The wayback machine engaged full-steam here. I don’t even want to contemplate how many decades it’s been since I last (and first) read this. (And never in English.) Turns out it’s not even the book I remembered, but I know I read this one too and loved the hero. I remember his name. XD And hers, strangely enough. Nothing of the plot but hey, that’s awesome in its own way.
So it took a while to get used to the language; it’s really dated and the tramp vernacular complicates things. The amount of compression employed is vastly different from today’s decompressed storytelling as well. But it’s fun and crazy and silly in the best ways. Pulp fiction? Hell yes. But still much better written than most of what you see today.
Reading this I could see all that inspired the first comic books a few years later; it’s all gloriously present. Even early Georgette Heyer was so very clearly inspired by these vigilante-adventurer type heroes.
Most difficult to deal with are certain attitudes and words of the time, such as racist slurs used liberally. But that’s the way with older books, huh?
All in all, I just loved Robin’s attitude and the subtlety of both the romance, as well as characterizations. I even snagged a quote, because it thrilled me. Yes, this is the first inkling of anything romantic in this book and it’s magical.
I’m in love with how powerful a small thing can be. <3
In view of the fact that Edgar Wallace writes all levels of good and bad? This was one of his very best, I think. <3 And yet I still haven’t been able to identify that one book of his that’s been at the back of my mind all this time.
Ooh, boy.
The wayback machine engaged full-steam here. I don’t even want to contemplate how many decades it’s been since I last (and first) read this. (And never in English.) Turns out it’s not even the book I remembered, but I know I read this one too and loved the hero. I remember his name. XD And hers, strangely enough. Nothing of the plot but hey, that’s awesome in its own way.
So it took a while to get used to the language; it’s really dated and the tramp vernacular complicates things. The amount of compression employed is vastly different from today’s decompressed storytelling as well. But it’s fun and crazy and silly in the best ways. Pulp fiction? Hell yes. But still much better written than most of what you see today.
Reading this I could see all that inspired the first comic books a few years later; it’s all gloriously present. Even early Georgette Heyer was so very clearly inspired by these vigilante-adventurer type heroes.
Most difficult to deal with are certain attitudes and words of the time, such as racist slurs used liberally. But that’s the way with older books, huh?
All in all, I just loved Robin’s attitude and the subtlety of both the romance, as well as characterizations. I even snagged a quote, because it thrilled me. Yes, this is the first inkling of anything romantic in this book and it’s magical.
She flashed a quick smile. He had not seen her smile before, and the experience left him a little breathless.
I’m in love with how powerful a small thing can be. <3
In view of the fact that Edgar Wallace writes all levels of good and bad? This was one of his very best, I think. <3 And yet I still haven’t been able to identify that one book of his that’s been at the back of my mind all this time.
April 10, 2020
A magyar verziót olvastam.
Valamikor régen olvastam már a könyvet és jól szórakoztam rajta. Ma, hogy polcrendezések közben a kezembe került, kedvem támadt újraolvasni.
És most is szórakoztató volt, jókat kuncogtam a csavargó és felesége kalandján.
Ugyanakkor most jobban zavartak a kesze-kusza mondatok, néha totál értelmetlenségek voltak. Nem tudom, hogy a fordítás hibája vagy eredetileg is ilyen, de halál idegesítő volt.
Valamikor régen olvastam már a könyvet és jól szórakoztam rajta. Ma, hogy polcrendezések közben a kezembe került, kedvem támadt újraolvasni.
És most is szórakoztató volt, jókat kuncogtam a csavargó és felesége kalandján.
Ugyanakkor most jobban zavartak a kesze-kusza mondatok, néha totál értelmetlenségek voltak. Nem tudom, hogy a fordítás hibája vagy eredetileg is ilyen, de halál idegesítő volt.
July 13, 2024
This is, unusually for Edgar Wallace, set in America. October Jones is being forced to marry a local so that she may fulfill requirements in her father's will and receive her inheritance. Except that she's quite contrary as a general rule and quips that she'd rather marry a tramp than the proposed bridegroom. In a spirit of mean fun, she is brought a tramp ... and marries him. Of course, the tramp is more than he seems, there is a mysterious pair of murderous men on his trail, and there is a very nice attraction between him and October. An adventure plus romance through the hinterlands of America near the Canadian border. I enjoyed it.
June 20, 2021
The plot evolves slowly and the reader must be patient, but the time spent will be rewarded. One of my favorite Edgar Wallace novels. As usual, many questions emerge as the story unwinds. I found myself going back many times to refresh my memory on certain passages. The two main characters, Robin and October, are enchanting. The final chapter, and the last three pages in particular, are terrific. A fantastic ending to see them finally enjoying the wedded bliss they deserved!
December 29, 2023
Utterly implausible, with an ending you could have predicted before reading the first chapter, written in speed and thoroughly enjoyable if you go with the flow to the end of the ride.
September 4, 2013
Rather different from the usual Wallace plot, here we have a tramp heading for the Canadian border who marries a girl while in a drunken stupor. The mystery of the tramps identity is solved at the end but is something of a disappointment. Along the way though its the usual Wallace mixture of thrills and highly unlikely coincidences.
November 2, 2013
2-1/2 stars. Engaging characters. Mysterious behavior on the part of the tramp. A not-unexpected ending. (Be aware, when this was written, the N-word and "coon" were common references. One section is full of them.)
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews