ABOUT THIS BOOK

An accessible history of the Roma people in England told from the inside.

The Romany people have been variously portrayed as exotic strangers or as crude, violent, delinquent “gypsies.” For the first time, this book describes the real history of the Romany in England from the inside. Drawing on new archival and first-hand research, Jeremy Harte vividly describes the itinerant life of the Romany as well as their artistic traditions, unique language, and flamboyant ceremonies. Travelers through Time tells the dramatic story of Romany life on the British margins from Tudor times through today, filled with vivid insights into the world of England’s large Romany population.

AUTHOR BIOGRAPHY

Jeremy Harte is curator of the Bourne Hall Museum at Epsom and Ewell. He is secretary of the Romany & Traveller Family History Society and created the Surrey Gypsy Archive. His previous books include Cloven Country: The Devil in the English Landscape, also published by Reaktion Books.

REVIEWS

"Progressing chronologically from Tudor times when Gypsies first appear in the English written record up to the present day, [Harte] gives an in-depth description of how Romani life, culture and language have developed and adapted through the centuries . . . Harte handles their history with respect; the details of his description, his wry sense of humor and the use of telling quotes are all evidence of his enthusiasm for his subject.”

— The Morning Star (UK)

“Harte has spent many years in close conversation with Romani families, in the position of both participant observer and, more importantly, old friend. As such, he is an excellent guide to the history of Britain’s Gypsies. His knowledge of the Anglo-Romani language and its connection to both continental and older British forms of Romani is sound.”

— Literary Review

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Cover

Title Page

Copyright

Contents

Prologue: Writing a Gypsy History

Introduction: Meetings on Epsom Downs

1. Entertaining Strangers: Tudor England

2. Long Travellers: Georgian Britain

3. Lucky for Some: Regency Days

4. Test Your Strength: Early Victorian Times

5. Waggons Roll: The Victorian Age

6. Between Two Fires: The Early Twentieth Century

7. The End of the Road: Post-War Britain

8. New Ways: The Modern World

Glossary

References

Bibliography

List of Illustrations

Index

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