I Walked by Night: Being the Philosophy of the King of the Norfolk Poachers, Written by Himself

by Lilias Rider Haggard (Editor), Fred Rolfe (Narrator)

A Norfolk poacher, Fred Rolfe, looks back at his life and thoughts. This is a 2009 reprint of a book first published in 1935. It was edited by the daughter of the famous author Henry Rider Haggard.

199 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1983

Reviews

[R WILSON · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was the very first book I ever read or borrowed from a library, I was about 10 years old, I am 80 now, and this wonderful book converted me into becoming a lifelong reader of all manner of books, and it set me off on the road to becoming a self-educated man and millionaire. I admired the authors guts, life and exploits. Like many Brits at that time, he did not share the view that because you owned the land you also owned and had all rights to capturing any wild hares, rabbits, wood pigeons, partridges, pheasants, grouse, trout and salmon found on it. If you were caught netting them you could be arrested, tried and either fined or sent to prison. Pleading poverty or starvation would do you no good in those ever so black workhouse days. This book was written during an age when boys and girls age 10 and upwards worked in coal mines, shipyards, weaving sheds and cotton mills for 12 hours a day for a pittance, you worked Saturdays as well but could have Sunday off. One day this book will be made into a film, and will win an Oscar. This book is an Oscar winner in its own right, and it tells us why Brits are such a tough, ready to fight the world lot from Birth. It was written in the 1930s, I have 3 first editions and they are worth around £100 each, $200 dollars in foreign money meaning USA Dollars.

[Paul Lawrenson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Could not put it down

A great buk t read about bygone times, with all the spelin mistakes of the author, his observations of the wildlife he poaches his quote :
Did not God say that he gave all the Beasts and Birds for the use of Man, not the rich alone, and the Green herbs for the Healing of the Nation. I envy not the Ritch man’s lot, nor the Prince his dream.
If looks from the Parson and Policeman could kill, I would be dead over many a time.
Treat thee sen to this buk tha want be dissapointed.

[Laline Paull]

Here's a bit of bloody fur-shredding pipe-knocking ripe nature writing for you, here's some language you cannot fake, and a personality that knocks the pages about - even as it is edited by Lilias Rider Haggard. To her credit she too was smitten by the vitality and lust for life-and-death of The King of the Poachers, whose spirit lives on to this day, in the erratic thumping sounds from the boot of a modern poacher's car, outside the country pub. Everyone knows, no one says. Where there's an estate there's game, where there's game there's poaching. This is where the pie starts.

[Ned Trifle · Rating 4 out of 5]

Brilliant view of the poaching life from both sides of the (barbed wire) fence. Essential reading for anyone with an overly romantic view of the English countryside and it's not too distant past. The wholesale slaughter on anything that moved (including cats and dogs) by gamekeepers, hunters and poachers alike might shock a reader in the early 21st century. And the violence is not restricted to furry bunnies, Rolfe himself is nearly killed by gamekeepers and is not afraid to swing a cudgel himself when (not strictly) necessary.

[Alan · Rating 5 out of 5]

I first read this as a school boy in the early 70's. It is about a part of rural life now long gone, when people in the countryside were country people who knew the area, the wildlife & lived on exceptionally low incomes.