Gypsies: The Hidden Americans (Paperback)

~ (Author) "Approximately every twenty years someone predicts that the Gypsies are a dying culture and laments that the old ways have gone and that the future..." (more)
Key Phrases: gaje authorities, same vitsa, own vitsa, John Marks, San Francisco, Miller George (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description

The Gypsies portrayed in this book are the Vlax-speaking Rom, the largest group of Gypsies in the United States, numbering 500,000. Not officially recognized as a minority in the U.S. until 1972, Gypsies have led an almost entirely invisible existence here. Now in this fascinating work--the first complete account of American Gypsies--Sutherland has produced an in-depth look at the full range of everyday social life among the Rom. Separate, elusive, complex, and unique among the people of the world, Gypsies have preserved their traditional way of life. How have they avoided assimilation? What keeps them apart? How are they organized, and what do they believe? These and other important questions about these hidden Americans are addressed in Sutherland's contemporary study.

From the Publisher

Titles of related interest from Waveland Press: Gmelch, Nan: The Life of an Irish Travelling Woman (ISBN 9780881336023) and Yoors, The Gypsies (ISBN 9780881333053).

Product Details

• Paperback
• Publisher: Waveland Press (July 1986)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0881332356
• ISBN-13: 978-0881332353
• Product Dimensions: 8.5 x 5.5 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 15.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #323,990 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

41 of 43 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A Thorough resource, April 30, 1999

By	[e-mail] "hcritz" (CT, USA) - See all my reviews

A previous comment expressed dissapointment in this book, due to it's scholarly (and thus dry) content. To those looking for excitement and romance about this "fascinating subject," there are countless books out there, weaving tales of unsubstantiated and perpetuated misinformation for the sake of romance. Indeed, someone who wants to find accurate, thorough material on the Rom (especially in the US) with atleast a modicum of objectivity, is probably frustrated by the plentitude of such romantic Gypsy books. Sutherland's book, which has been called "techno-babble," is in fact what serious researchers would call an "ethnography"-- an amazing modern invention (however dry), that if it existed years ago, so much romantic crap about the Rom wouldn't have been accepted in print and thus Gypsies everywhere would probably be less oppressed by other's damaging notions. There are too few real ethnographies on the Rom in the English language, and anyone interested in learning about the Rom population in the US will probably begin their research with this book. It's also important to note that (as the necessity of any ethnography that desires to be somewhat thorough) only a specific group is dealt with in the book, and generalizations about all Rom in the US would be difficult.

23 of 24 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars An honest view, February 22, 2006

By	Rayka Sutta - See all my reviews

If you are seeking an exciting, and completely false, account of the Roma in America(such as the reviewer above apparently is), then this is not the book for you. There are plenty of books that further damage our reputation with the stereotypes of our people. It is refreshing to read a very realistic account. People, like the reviewer above, need to realize that the stereotypes have caused extreme discrimination, all in the name of romanticized entertainment. If it doesn't hurt them, they don't care. As long as they have a good read, however fictional it is.

If you are seeking the truth about the Roma, then this book will be a good addition to your collection.

17 of 19 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A great ethnographic study of a misunderstood ethnic group., September 20, 1999

By A Customer

Due to its nature as an ethnographic study the book will apear as a dry relation of facts. However, the book carries get weight and is used in University Anthropology classes.