At the age of twelve, Jan Yoors ran away from his privileged, cultured Belgian family and home to join a wandering band, a kumpania, of Gypsies. For ten years, he lived as one of them, traveled with them from country to country, shared both their pleasures and their hardships--and came to know them as no one, no outsider, ever has. Here, in this firsthand and highly personal account of an extraordinary people, Yoors tells the real story of the Gypsies' fascinating customs and their neverending struggle to survive as free nomads in a hostile world.
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Editorial Reviews
From the Publisher
In a rare publishing event, Jan Yoors' The Gypsies became an instant classic upon its original publication. Waveland Press is proud to make this extraordinary work available again. The reprint includes a stunning section of photographs taken by the author during his travels with European Gypsies. Titles of related interest from Waveland Press: Gmelch, Nan: The Life of an Irish Travelling Woman (ISBN 9780881336023) and Sutherland, Gypsies: The Hidden Americans (ISBN 9780881332353).
From the Back Cover
"Fascinating. A lyrical tribute, a unique inside view." -- Newsweek
"An exciting firsthand impression of life in a Gypsy camp forever on the move. A most valuable and original contribution." -- New York Times Book Review
"Beautifully evokes a way of life in which freedom and independence still survive." -- Sir Herbert Read
"Unquestionably the only book ever written from the inside of this most mysterious and elusive group of people. Beautifully written. A treasure. I think you will find it difficult to stop reading this unique and personal love song for a way of life." -- Houston Post
"Absolutely delightful." -- Margaret Mead
"Unique. No stay-at-home can read the book without a stab of yearning. . . . Reading it is like gulping in fresh air and experiencing a vicarious release from the complications of `civilized' living." -- Minneapolis Tribune
"Enchanting. There are many surprising revelations . . . but most amazing is the spell that is cast on the reader." -- Columbus Dispatch
"Exciting, fascinating . . . we not only understand but also actually envy the Romani soul, and feel as though we would gladly shed a few of our encumbrances to join them." -- Chicago's American
"Of course any right thinking boy would dream about joining a Gypsy caravan, but Jan Yoors actually left his comfortable home and found a nomadic life as splendid as his dreams. And now he has enough of the poet in him to convey his timeless, routineless, endless fascination of wandering through a changing countryside, creeping through frontiers, part of a mysterious society." -- Christian Science Monitor
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
41 of 43 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Lyrically written and very moving,
By Joanna Daneman (Middletown, DE USA) - See all my reviews (TOP 10 REVIEWER) (VINE VOICE) (COMMUNITY FORUM 04) (HALL OF FAME REVIEWER) (REAL NAME)
This review is from: The Gypsies (Paperback)
Jan Yoors ran away at a young age from his phenomenally understanding Belgian parents and lived on and off with a Lowara gypsy kumpana for many years. Always split between the worlds of the Gajo (European) and Rom (Gypsy) he nevertheless became one of them though never totally abandoning his European heritage. His writing is nothing short of miraculous; lyrical, clear and touching. Jan Yoors also wrote a follow up book (Crossings) about his years in the Resistance during WWII. Both books are truly wonderful. If you read any book about the Romany people, this should be the one.
23 of 23 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
One of the best Romani resources.,
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This review is from: The Gypsies (Paperback)
I am of Romani descent, my ancestors were Czech, and as a girl my great-grandmother told me fascinating stories about her family's nomadic lifestyle. For me, Yoors' work was a continuation of my grannies stories. Of all the material I have read on the Romani, I found "The Gypsies" to be the most concise. Yoors had the amazing opportunity to not only observe the Romani society, but also to be absorbed into it. The readers are given the rare gift of seeing dual sides of the story. Because of his young age, he was able to enter into their society with few cultural biases. At the same time, because he was a gaje he was able to appreciate and embrace the cultural differences. This is a wonderful chronicle of a beautiful culture, which unfortunately is fading fast. For infomation on present day Romani, "Bury Me Standing" by Isabel Fonseca is a great resource.
26 of 27 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
A Wonderful Book... Read it, Lend it, Buy it Again...,
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This review is from: The Gypsies (Paperback)
Jan Yoors parents let the gypies take their child -- literally. That's a lurid way to describe it, but they let him spend his summers traveling with gypsies for many years during his youth. This book tells that story, and it is equal parts transporting magical memories and anthropology.
Like many others, I read this book in college 20+ years ago and it has remained a favorite ever since. A few copies of this have passed through my hands, been lent to others, and disappeared. It was out of print for a long time, so it is wonderful to see it available again. Discover this book and I'll bet you lose a copy or two as you recommend and pass it on to others.
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This book is written as a protest against oblivion, as a cry of love for this race of strangers who have lived among us for centuries and remained apart. Read the first page Key Phrases - Statistically Improbable Phrases (SIPs): (learn more)
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United States, World War, The Silent Rain New!
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This book is written as a protest against oblivion, as a cry of love for this race of strangers who have lived among us for centuries and remained apart. Read the first page Key Phrases - Statistically Improbable Phrases (SIPs): (learn more)
bridal price Key Phrases - Capitalized Phrases (CAPs): (learn more)
United States, World War, The Silent Rain New!
Concordance | Text Stats Browse Sample Pages:
Front Cover | First Pages | Back Cover | Surprise Me!
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