Please note that this book was previously published as Our Forgotten Years: A Gypsy Woman's Life on the Road. No updates have been made to the content of the book. Born on a Somerset pea-field in 1941, the second of eight children in a Romani family, Maggie Smith-Bendell has lived through the years of greatest change in the travelling community's long history. As a child, Maggie rode and slept in a horse-drawn wagon, picked hops and flowers, and sat beside her father's campfire on ancient verges, poor but free to roam. As the twentieth century progressed, common land was fenced off and the traditional ways disappeared. Eventually Maggie married a house-dweller and tried to settle for bricks and mortar, but she never lost the restless spirit, the deep love of the land and the gift for storytelling that were her Romani inheritance. Maggie's story is one of hardship and prejudice, but also, unforgettably, it recalls the glories of the travelling life, in the absolute safety of a loyal and loving family.
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- Please note that this book was previously published as Our Forgotten Years: A Gypsy Woman's Life on the Road. No updates have been made to the content of the book.
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Product Description
Book Description
* An enchanting and utterly absorbing memoir of a forgotten way of life
* Previously published as Our Forgotten Years
About the Author
Maggie Smith-Bendell runs an advisory service for Gypsies and Travellers, and campaigns for the rights of Gypsies.
Inside This Book
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
21 of 21 people found the following review helpful
By Book chatter
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
Reviews should be about reviewing the quality of the book and not the fact that the PUBLISHER decided to re-release the book with a new title and cover - not unusual in the publishing world. Having met Maggie I know she has also added to this book.
If you want to know more about the true life of a Romani then read this down to earth book. The book tells of Maggie's early life, born into a Romani gypsy family in the 1940s in the Cotswolds. She lived the traditions and travelling life of the Romani people - a life that has now almost disappeared, due to misunderstanding and bureaucracy. As she takes you through the years she talks about traditions, beliefs and everyday life which was hard, but enjoyable. She decided from an early age that she would marry a gorja - a house dweller, which is what she did, and for many years struggled to live in a house whilst longing for the travelling life, and now lives in a trailer on her own land. She brought her sons up in the traveller traditions and rounds off the book by bringing her life up to date with her work to help other Romani recognise and embrace their culture and be proud of it, whilst also fighting to retain their ways of life. There's a useful list of Romani words at the back, which Maggie uses in the book and some FAQ about some of the misconceptions about Romani.
If you want to know more about the true life of a Romani then read this down to earth book. The book tells of Maggie's early life, born into a Romani gypsy family in the 1940s in the Cotswolds. She lived the traditions and travelling life of the Romani people - a life that has now almost disappeared, due to misunderstanding and bureaucracy. As she takes you through the years she talks about traditions, beliefs and everyday life which was hard, but enjoyable. She decided from an early age that she would marry a gorja - a house dweller, which is what she did, and for many years struggled to live in a house whilst longing for the travelling life, and now lives in a trailer on her own land. She brought her sons up in the traveller traditions and rounds off the book by bringing her life up to date with her work to help other Romani recognise and embrace their culture and be proud of it, whilst also fighting to retain their ways of life. There's a useful list of Romani words at the back, which Maggie uses in the book and some FAQ about some of the misconceptions about Romani.
13 of 13 people found the following review helpful
By J. Cooper
TOP 500 REVIEWER
Format:Paperback
This relatively short book is a collection of memories, photographs, songs and customs written by a Romani Traveller author. The book describes the author's childhood, living within a traditional Romani Travelling community before concluding with a number of chapters which describe the ways in which the author attempted to raise the awareness of `Gypsy'/Traveller ethnic groups and also how she fought numerous local councils and authorities for basic human rights.
I knew next to nothing at all about the Traveller community before reading this book and had a number of preconceived misconceptions. Whilst heavily biased in favour of the Romani Traveller community, I particularly enjoyed reading this book because it was educational, informative and often quite humorous. The Romani Traveller community have a rich culture and heritage and are often judged by others when they first appear on the brow of a hill. The author acknowledges that not all Travellers are honest, hardworking individuals, but she quite adroitly points to the fact that there are rotten apples in every barrel across society.
The author describes her community as a loving, hardworking, joyful group of people whose main difference from those who reside within homes of bricks and mortar is the love of the open road and an ever-changing backdrop. Again, whilst remembering that the book was written about Romani Travellers by a Romani author, I was disappointed and saddened to read about the incidents where hatred and anger were directed towards the children. On the other hand however, there were frequent examples of love and generosity from Travellers to non-travellers and from non-travellers to Travellers.
I heartily recommend this book as an introductory read to anyone who like me has little knowledge of this fascinating people. Give it a try and read it with an open mind. I tried to do so and found the results, vastly rewarding!
I knew next to nothing at all about the Traveller community before reading this book and had a number of preconceived misconceptions. Whilst heavily biased in favour of the Romani Traveller community, I particularly enjoyed reading this book because it was educational, informative and often quite humorous. The Romani Traveller community have a rich culture and heritage and are often judged by others when they first appear on the brow of a hill. The author acknowledges that not all Travellers are honest, hardworking individuals, but she quite adroitly points to the fact that there are rotten apples in every barrel across society.
The author describes her community as a loving, hardworking, joyful group of people whose main difference from those who reside within homes of bricks and mortar is the love of the open road and an ever-changing backdrop. Again, whilst remembering that the book was written about Romani Travellers by a Romani author, I was disappointed and saddened to read about the incidents where hatred and anger were directed towards the children. On the other hand however, there were frequent examples of love and generosity from Travellers to non-travellers and from non-travellers to Travellers.
I heartily recommend this book as an introductory read to anyone who like me has little knowledge of this fascinating people. Give it a try and read it with an open mind. I tried to do so and found the results, vastly rewarding!
9 of 9 people found the following review helpful
By Emily
Format:Paperback
I have an interest in but not much knowledge of travelling communities and found this book quite informative and enjoyable. It conjured up a good picture of a vanished way of life. The chapter about the death of the authors brother aged 7 in an accident was particularly poignant and memorable.
My main criticism was that with the large gypsy families of up to 17 children (the author was one of eight which is small by gypsy standards), there were so many characters popping up in the book, often only for just a page or two - it was quite hard to keep track of who was who. Aunties and uncles appeared in the text and I was left wondering how they fitted in to the family or if I'd come across them in previous chapters. So I didn't feel that I finished the book with an intimate portrait of the family firmly in my head - it's more the general story of the way of life with a few specific incidents recounted. A family tree would be a good addition for the next edition!
The last few chapters of the book race though the period of the author's life from the time she got married and settled in a permanent location - and all the work she's done for Traveller's Rights. They feel as if they were tacked on, change the mood of the book and don't read so well. On the plus side, there are a lot of reproductions of family photos throughout the text and at the end of the book - unusual for a paperback.
Whatever, it's certainly an interesting antidote to "My Big Fat Gypsy Wedding" currently airing on Channel 4.
My main criticism was that with the large gypsy families of up to 17 children (the author was one of eight which is small by gypsy standards), there were so many characters popping up in the book, often only for just a page or two - it was quite hard to keep track of who was who. Aunties and uncles appeared in the text and I was left wondering how they fitted in to the family or if I'd come across them in previous chapters. So I didn't feel that I finished the book with an intimate portrait of the family firmly in my head - it's more the general story of the way of life with a few specific incidents recounted. A family tree would be a good addition for the next edition!
The last few chapters of the book race though the period of the author's life from the time she got married and settled in a permanent location - and all the work she's done for Traveller's Rights. They feel as if they were tacked on, change the mood of the book and don't read so well. On the plus side, there are a lot of reproductions of family photos throughout the text and at the end of the book - unusual for a paperback.
Whatever, it's certainly an interesting antidote to "My Big Fat Gypsy Wedding" currently airing on Channel 4.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars
Good read
This is an excellent, well written and interesting account of life as it was on the road. Would recommend it
Published 1 month ago by AM Scotland
5.0 out of 5 stars
gypsy book
i loved this book the pictures are amazing there are pictures of my family members in there and its brilliant.
Published 1 month ago by maggie s
5.0 out of 5 stars
Great Read
Required reading for those studying the Romany culture. Can't believe they have taken to bricks and mortar after the life travelling the roads
Published 2 months ago by Jan
5.0 out of 5 stars
Love this
I've read this story time after time. It's so well written and interesting. Get really lost in the whole story of it.
Published 2 months ago by BDH
5.0 out of 5 stars
gypsy
my husband is intrested in gypsys and enjoyed it very much it is excellent to learn about the gypsies how they live
Published 2 months ago by Mrs. Christine Spain
5.0 out of 5 stars
Changed my understanding of the Romany Way Of Life
Since reading this book I have great sympathy with the travelling communities. Inevitably their way of life has been changed forever by a modern fast moving world. Read more
Published 4 months ago by Rodney Garlant
5.0 out of 5 stars
VERY INTERESTING
EXCELLENT AND VERY INTERESTING READ. VERY GOOD DETAIL ABOUT THE WAYS OF LIFE BACK IN THE GOOD OLD DAYS WHEN THINGS WHERE GOOD.
Published 4 months ago by Julian Marsh
5.0 out of 5 stars
book
purchased book for my wife she has never stopped reading. it refers to areas we live in which brings it closer to home
Published 8 months ago by William
5.0 out of 5 stars
Yesteryear of gypsies life on the road
I enjoyed reading about Maggie's life/her family and up bringing.
So, so, sad loosing loved ones in her family. Read more
So, so, sad loosing loved ones in her family. Read more
Published 9 months ago by Camping dudes
5.0 out of 5 stars
Top Notch Read
Loved this book 100% found myself totally wrapped up in it, probably helped as I live in the area Maggie describes she traveled around in the book. Read more
Published 13 months ago by Ade
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