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Review
'An enchanting story of a lost world, related with charm and good humour.' (Alan Titchmarsh )
'Penfold's warm-hearted story of growing up in a gypsy wagon is rich with the small daily details - shelling peas, soda-soaking tea towels and lighting the tilley lamp - that made up this tight-knit community.' (SAINSBURYS MAGAZINE )
'There are no dramatic climaxes in this beautifully written memoir, just a gentle journey through Penfold's childhood that I looked forward to picking up each night ... the most enjoyable thing about this read is that it's a classic coming-of-age story' (COSMOPOLITAN.CO.UK )
'Penfold's warm-hearted story of growing up in a gypsy wagon is rich with the small daily details - shelling peas, soda-soaking tea towels and lighting the tilley lamp - that made up this tight-knit community.' (SAINSBURYS MAGAZINE )
'There are no dramatic climaxes in this beautifully written memoir, just a gentle journey through Penfold's childhood that I looked forward to picking up each night ... the most enjoyable thing about this read is that it's a classic coming-of-age story' (COSMOPOLITAN.CO.UK )
Review
'An enchanting story of a lost world, related with charm and good humour.' -- Alan Titchmarsh 'Penfold's warm-hearted story of growing up in a gypsy wagon is rich with the small daily details - shelling peas, soda-soaking tea towels and lighting the tilley lamp - that made up this tight-knit community.' SAINSBURYS MAGAZINE 'There are no dramatic climaxes in this beautifully written memoir, just a gentle journey through Penfold's childhood that I looked forward to picking up each night ... the most enjoyable thing about this read is that it's a classic coming-of-age story' COSMOPOLITAN.CO.UK
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
37 of 38 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
This was bought as a holiday read and I'd finished it within the first day - I couldn't put it down. Rosemary Penfold has brought to life a lifestyle of which many of us will know very little. Rosemary's upbringing was in a static Romany encampment in rural Somerset, on land bought by her grandmother, surrounded by a large, warm, extended family.
Rosemary's mother was non-Romany a 'gadje', which meant that Rosemary also had exposure to the lifestyle of those outside the travelling community, with visits to her maternal grandmother. Her grandmother must have had some agonies over her daughter's choice of husband, but to her great credit, she never let this affect her relationship with her grandchildren.
Chiefly though, this is a book centred on a loving upbringing within the Romany tradition, and it is absolutely fascinating in this respect. There was deep prejudice within the local community against the Romany, from both adults and children with a few 'gadje' people brave enough to stand up to this and speak up for them. The book is co-dedicated to the inspirational and loving Miss Gunning, a teacher who was all too briefly Rosemary's champion.
The prejudice still exists, but the way of life has changed greatly - the traditional wagon that Rosemary was born in is now largely a museum piece. Although she married outside the Romany community Rosemary has remained close to her Romany relatives and pen-portraits of unforgettable characters form the backbone of the book - her beloved 'Granfer', kilt-wearing Nellie and her own dear parents.
The overwhelming impression of the book is not of the prejudice experienced however, but of the joy extracted from life. The hardships are not glossed over, but the enjoyments extracted from simple pleasures are beautifully described - including the 'field full of butterflies' of the title.
Very highly recommended to anyone who enjoys biography, country life or social history - an instant classic.
Rosemary's mother was non-Romany a 'gadje', which meant that Rosemary also had exposure to the lifestyle of those outside the travelling community, with visits to her maternal grandmother. Her grandmother must have had some agonies over her daughter's choice of husband, but to her great credit, she never let this affect her relationship with her grandchildren.
Chiefly though, this is a book centred on a loving upbringing within the Romany tradition, and it is absolutely fascinating in this respect. There was deep prejudice within the local community against the Romany, from both adults and children with a few 'gadje' people brave enough to stand up to this and speak up for them. The book is co-dedicated to the inspirational and loving Miss Gunning, a teacher who was all too briefly Rosemary's champion.
The prejudice still exists, but the way of life has changed greatly - the traditional wagon that Rosemary was born in is now largely a museum piece. Although she married outside the Romany community Rosemary has remained close to her Romany relatives and pen-portraits of unforgettable characters form the backbone of the book - her beloved 'Granfer', kilt-wearing Nellie and her own dear parents.
The overwhelming impression of the book is not of the prejudice experienced however, but of the joy extracted from life. The hardships are not glossed over, but the enjoyments extracted from simple pleasures are beautifully described - including the 'field full of butterflies' of the title.
Very highly recommended to anyone who enjoys biography, country life or social history - an instant classic.
21 of 22 people found the following review helpful
Format:Kindle Edition
I was born the same year as Rosemary and also lived in the country.
There was a copse at the back of our house and Gypsies used to stay for a short time every year to cut wood to make pegs.
As a child I envied the Gypsy children because they didn't go to school and lived in a Gypsy wagon.
Reading this book has let me see the reality of how tough everyday life was for them how they struggled to survive. Rosemary has managed to portray a loving family with humour despite the prejudices and hardships.
Things that she observed about the countryside remind me of my own childhood.
This is a beautiful story told from the heart.
There was a copse at the back of our house and Gypsies used to stay for a short time every year to cut wood to make pegs.
As a child I envied the Gypsy children because they didn't go to school and lived in a Gypsy wagon.
Reading this book has let me see the reality of how tough everyday life was for them how they struggled to survive. Rosemary has managed to portray a loving family with humour despite the prejudices and hardships.
Things that she observed about the countryside remind me of my own childhood.
This is a beautiful story told from the heart.
8 of 8 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
What a fantastic book. The way this book has been written is absolutely perfect. No wandering or waffle. So easy to read - it just draws you in and you don't want to put it down. Rosemary's memories give an endearing insight into the old Gypsy way of life. Whilst mainly very romantic, hard times were encountered too. Nonetheless, the way of life left me feeling quite envious. Sad, Happy, Funny and Serious. It's all there. Recounted in such a way visions of the encampment, family, villagers and countryside are easy to muster up. Also stirs thoughts and feelings from own childhood and brings home how special this time was but eventually it sadly comes to an end. People move on and grow old. Deaths bought a lump to my throat, I almost felt as though I knew these people myself just from reading the book. Definitely recommended.
Most Recent Customer Reviews
A field full of butterflies
A Field Full of Butterflies is the childhood memoirs of the author, Rosemary Penfold. Born into a Romany family in the rural English West Country, Rosie grows up in a traditional... Read more
Published 1 month ago by Carroty Nell
good read
from start to finish very interesting book, on the Gypsy way of life, learnt a lot from it, enjoyed very much.
Published 7 months ago by A. M. Moore
A Field Full of Butterflies
A lovely portrayal of a young gypsy girl's childhood. I really enjoyed the story and felt I knew the family as I read. Read more
Published 7 months ago by Mrs. C. L. Warrilow
wonderfully written and unique!
I couldn't put this book down, a unique coming of age story like no other! Rosemary's beautifully written memoirs provide a rare, genuine glimpse into the word of real Gypsies, a... Read more
Published 7 months ago by Lisa Churchill
a field of butterflies
as kids we saw the gypsy cravans around a seaside place in new south wales australia. we never got to know anyone, but as kids we would watch in awe. Read more
Published 9 months ago by Moya Spurr
A real pleasure to read
This book was such a lovely read! It allowed me to look in on a world we actually know so little about. A world that doesn't really exist any more. Read more
Published 10 months ago by Mrs. M. Van Tonder
excellent true life read
This book was a first class read if you are interested in true life experiences from childhood when we made our own fun & games.
Published 11 months ago by normski
lady reader lincoln
A really interesting book. Once I started reading it was very unputdownable.
You really feel you are their living their life with them. It is a very good
book. Read more
You really feel you are their living their life with them. It is a very good
book. Read more
Published 11 months ago by samson
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