Through celebration, education and raising awareness, Gypsy, Roma and Traveller History Month helps to tackle prejudice, change the story, and amplify the voices of Gypsy, Roma and Travellers in wider society.
Join us and expand your reading this month with books about and from the Gypsy, Roma and Traveller community!
Top non-fiction
The Stopping Places: A Journey Through Gypsy Britain by Damian Le Bas
Damian Le Bas grew up on a diet of Gypsy history. His great-grandmother, Nan, would tell him stories of her childhood in the ancient Romany language; the places her family stopped and worked, the ways they lived, the superstitions and lores of their people. But his own experience of life on the road was limited to Ford Transit journeys from West Sussex to Hampshire to sell flowers. Longing to better understand his Gypsy heritage, the history of the Romany in Britain and the rhythms of their life today, Damian set out on a journey to discover the old encampment sites known only to Travellers. From winter frost to summer dawns, he travels the country to visit horse fairs, urban lay-bys and hidden Gypsy churches. ‘The Stopping Places’ shines a light on a group of people and a way of life that has been often hidden and much maligned.
Reserve the pBook of ‘The Stopping Places’
Listen to the eAudio of ‘The Stopping Places’
“Can a book steal your heart? This one just stole mine!” Travellers Times
Gypsy Feast: Recipes and Culinary Traditions of the Romany People by Carol Wilson
The Romany people are descendants of the ancient warrior classes of Northern India who trekked westwards around AD 1000. Their migration took them through Persia and Armenia, into Europe and later to the Americas. Today, the Roma live scattered throughout the world. Roma foodways were traditionally determined by their nomadic way of life. Thus, the cuisine came to include whatever was readily available, such as wild fruits and vegetables, berries, herbs, flowers, fish and shellfish, and wild game. Today, few Roma continue to live as nomads, and their traditional cuisine has largely been replaced by that of the mainstream society. Gypsy Feast evokes a memorable picture of the old Romany ways, including recipes, information on feasts and celebrations, marriage and funeral customs, and a unique way of life.
Reserve the pBook of ‘Gypsy Feast’
Love & Fury: The Magic and Mayhem of Life with Tyson by Paris Fury
Gypsy Queen to the Gypsy King, Tyson Fury’s wife Paris reveals the magical highs and epic lows of life with the Heavyweight Boxing World Champion, as she shares their life story and what keeps them strong through the good times – and the bad.
Both from Traveller families, she married him at 19 and is hands-on mother to their five children, as well as at his side through every fight. When Tyson’s struggles with depression, OCD and alcohol have threatened to overwhelm them, she has held them together and helped to see Tyson through to the greatest boxing victories. With all her warmth, humour and honesty, she tells her story – from her Traveller childhood, falling in love, making a home and a family, to coming through Tyson’s darkest moments.
Reserve the pBook of ‘Love & Fury’
“Captures the heartbeat of the British Romani Gypsy community – the value of family, the courage to face challenges head-on, and the determination to rise above.” Travellers Times
Top junior fiction
The Pavee and the Buffer Girl by Siobhan Dowd
Jim and his family have halted by Dundray and the education people have been round mouthing the law. In school the Traveller kids suffer at the hands of teachers and other pupils alike, called ‘tinker-stinkers’, ‘dirty gyps’ and worse. Then the punches start. The only friendly face is Kit, a settle girl who takes Jim under her wing and teaches him to read in the great cathedral chamber in the cave below the town.
Reserve the pBook of The Pavee and the Buffer Girl
Top children’s fiction
The Diddakoi by Rumer Godden
Rumer Godden’s The Diddakoi won the 1972 Whitbread Children’s Book Award. Everyone in Kizzy’s town hates her because she’s half-gypsy – a diddakoi. But Kizzy doesn’t care. All she needs is Gran and her horse, Joe. But when Gran dies and their wagon burns down, Kizzy is all alone. No one wants to look after her and her beloved Joe might get sent to the knacker’s yard. Can Kizzy survive in a hostile world – and save Joe?
Reserve the pBook of ‘The Diddakoi’
Reserve the eaudio of ‘The Diddakoi’
Tess by Rosemary Hayes
When a group of travellers come to live in the village, Tess secretly visits their horses. As she makes friends with some of the gypsy families, Tess moves closer to living her dream of becoming a talented rider. But there’s a lot of local hostility towards the travellers. When she finally confesses what she’s been doing, Tess is shunned by her school friends and her mum forbids her to visit the gypsy site again. Unless she can begin to break down barriers…
“Gives a unique insight into young Traveller lives” Travellers Times
Looking for more great books written by and featuring the history and stories of the Gypsy, Roma and Traveller community? Look no further!
- Jess Smith who has written a large collection of autobiographical books about her life, family and childhood
- Eva Petulengro a Romani author who spent her childhood on the road in a caravan before settling down in Brighton
- Robert Dawson a writer who become interested in the Gypsy, Roma and Traveller community from a young age
- Check out the Friends, Families and Travellers round of books to read
