Join Amazon Prime and get unlimited Free One-Day Delivery. Already a member? Sign in.

 

or
Sign in to turn on 1-Click ordering.
 
   
More Buying Choices
13 used & new from £7.49
Have one to sell? Sell yours here
 
   
Smoke in the Lanes
 
See larger image 
Share your own customer images
Publisher: learn how customers can search inside this book.

Smoke in the Lanes [Facsimile] (Paperback)

by Peter Ingram (Foreword), Dominic Reeve (Author), "Beshlie" (Illustrator)
5.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
RRP: £9.99
Price: £9.49 & this item Delivered FREE in the UK with Super Saver Delivery. See details and conditions
You Save: £0.50 (5%)
o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o
In stock.
Dispatched from and sold by Amazon.co.uk. Gift-wrap available.

Only 3 left in stock--order soon (more on the way).

Want guaranteed delivery by Wednesday, July 15? Choose Express delivery at checkout. See Details
11 new from £7.49 1 used from £49.95 1 collectible from £15.00
Other Editions: RRP: Our Price: Other Offers:
Hardcover (Country Book Club ed) Order it used

Frequently Bought Together

Smoke in the Lanes + Beneath the Blue Sky + Stopping Places: A Gypsy History of South London and Kent
Price For All Three: £32.47

Show availability and shipping details

Customers Who Bought This Item Also Bought

Beneath the Blue Sky

Beneath the Blue Sky

by Dominic Reeve
5.0 out of 5 stars (1)  £9.99
Stopping Places: A Gypsy History of South London and Kent

Stopping Places: A Gypsy History of South London and Kent

by Simon Evans
£12.99
Gypsy Jib: A Romany Dictionary

Gypsy Jib: A Romany Dictionary

by James Hayward
5.0 out of 5 stars (1)  £14.00
Bury Me Standing: The Gypsies and Their Journey

Bury Me Standing: The Gypsies and Their Journey

by Isabel Fonseca
4.8 out of 5 stars (5)  £6.29
Gypsy Feast

Gypsy Feast

by Carol Wilson
£12.74
› Explore similar items

Product details

  • Paperback: 312 pages
  • Publisher: University of Hertfordshire Press; Facsimile edition edition (7 Sep 2007)
  • Language English
  • ISBN-10: 1902806247
  • ISBN-13: 978-1902806242
  • Product Dimensions: 22 x 13.7 x 2.3 cm
  • Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
  • Amazon.co.uk Sales Rank: 222,606 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

    Popular in this category:

    #74 in  Books > Biography > Medical, Legal & Social Sciences > Anthropology & Sociology

    •  Would you like to update product info or give feedback on images?

  • See Complete Table of Contents

Customers Viewing This Page May Be Interested in These Sponsored Links

  (What is this?)
Smoke
   www.nhs.uk/smokefree    The NHS can support you to get off cigarettes in your own time. 
  
 

Product Description

Product Description
This facsimile reprint with a foreword by Peter Ingram of this classic account of the reality of life as a Gypsy in the 1950s when Travellers lived in horse drawn wagons and stopped by the wayside in quiet country lanes wherever possible, but were often driven to "atch" besides main highways as so many of the old stopping-places were fenced-off or built upon. This book is full of stories of life on the road and descriptions of colourful characters living for the present despite constant harassment by police and suspicious landowners. The author, Dominic Reeve, still lives the life of a Traveller but in a modern caravan pulled by a heavily chromed four wheel drive pickup. Illustrated with his wife, Beshlie's fine drawings this is an inside account of "life on the road" and as such is of permanent value to both students and the general reader as a vivid portrayal of a vanished way of life.

About the Author
The author is notoriously secretive and his true name and any personal details about his past have never been publicly disclosed. It is known, however, that he took to the life of a Traveller in his late teens (he was not born a Gypsy) and although turned seventy continues to live and earn his living in the traditional way. His dislike for both academics and "do gooders" is balanced by his close friendship for fellow Travellers and his adherence to traditions which many of those born Gypsies have abandoned. His wife, who drew the illustrations, goes by the name of 'Beshlie' and her drawings were much admired by Augustus John (who painted her) and bought by Dame Laura Knight. Dominic and Beshlie regularly attend the traditional horse fairs at Stow but have no permanent fixed address and their publisher communicates with them via an accommodation address. His three books (each with illustrations by Beshlie) are considered to be the most accurate account of the evolving life of English Gypsies (Romanichal) and as such of lasting value. Their genuineness can be attributed to the author having lived the life of a Traveller for all his adult life.

Suggested Tags from Similar Products

 (What's this?)
Be the first one to add a relevant tag (keyword that's strongly related to this product)
Check a corresponding box or enter your own tags in the field below
travelers
social history
romany
gypsies

Your tags: Add your first tag
 
See most popular tags

What Do Customers Ultimately Buy After Viewing This Item?

Smoke in the Lanes
59% buy the item featured on this page:
Smoke in the Lanes 5.0 out of 5 stars (3)
£9.49
Bury Me Standing: The Gypsies and Their Journey
14% buy
Bury Me Standing: The Gypsies and Their Journey 4.8 out of 5 stars (5)
£6.29
Beneath the Blue Sky
11% buy
Beneath the Blue Sky 5.0 out of 5 stars (1)
£9.99
Gypsy Feast
11% buy
Gypsy Feast
£12.74
Explore similar items
 

Customer Reviews

3 Reviews
5 star:
 (3)
4 star:    (0)
3 star:    (0)
2 star:    (0)
1 star:    (0)
 
 
 
 
 
Average Customer Review
5.0 out of 5 stars (3 customer reviews)
 
 
 
 
Share your thoughts with other customers:
Most Helpful Customer Reviews

 
7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars A Brilliant Classic, 1 Jan 2007
By Texas Reader (Texas USA) - See all my reviews
Dominic Reeve, the author of 'Smoke in the Lanes' (as well as 'No Place Like Home'(1961) and 'Whichever Way We Turn'(1964?) is quite simply the most accurate and knowledgeable writer on the life of the English Romani Travelling People. Because this book was originally written during 1957 it does not describe Irish Travellers (who didn't arrive in significant numbers until the 1960s) Millions of words have appeared about Travellers in England in books, articles and academic papers since 'Smoke in the Lanes' was first published in 1958: not one of them can match the sheer 'inside knowledge' and acute observations which Dominic Reeve poured so authentically into this - the opening classic - of his vivid trilogy. No academic and none of the falsely acclaimed contemporary fakes they promote so naively who pretend to Romani blood could have written any of Dominic Reeve's books. He and his partner, the very talented artist, Beshlie, travelled with horse-drawn wagons, living and travelling and earning a living on the roads of southern England in the 1950s. They continued to travel after they changed over from horses to motors and trailers but that was later than the events covered in 'Smoke in the Lanes'. I first read this book as young man shortly after it was published. Dominic Reeve has probably had more influence on my life, through this book, than any one else for the simple reason that reading it changed the entire course of my life. There aren't many books one can say that about. The world of Travellers in southern England that is described here has simply been swept away by forces Travellers had no control over. This is the only book published since Patrick McEvoy's 'The Gorse and the Briar' appeared in 1938 (a world that had gone by 1958) that tells us more or less exactly what it was like to live on the roads among horse-drawn Travellers in the last days of 'Wagon-Time'. There is no nonsense here about English Romanies being the recently coined 'Roma' - a word wholly unknown within British Travellers' own usage. A brilliant book: without it most of what it contains about 'Wagon-Time' would be forgotten in a few more years. If you haven't read it it's a must.
Comment Comment | Permalink | Was this review helpful to you? Yes No (Report this)



 
4 of 5 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars Romany Travels, 10 Jan 2005
An excellent book detailing the travels of Dominic and his wife Beshlie across southern England during the 1950s'. It tells of the prejudices suffered by the Roma by the gadje (non - Roma) but in an informative manner, as well as some of the more colourful Roma characters encountered on their travels.
It is set out as a series of events, each subsection being a different stopping place with a different family. Detailing the personalities of each group. Informative reading for anyone who wishes to know more about the Roma way of life, or any diddiki (part Roma), wishing to learn of their heritage.
Comment Comment | Permalink | Was this review helpful to you? Yes No (Report this)



 
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars pleasant way to experience the hardships of the Roms, 23 Feb 2009
By Jayjay "Jeff" (N Yorks, UK) - See all my reviews
i found the book to be educational, and somewhat comical in parts. a good read and a great way to experience the hardships that the Roms endured. The accented ways of the spellings can be a little confusing at times but made the reading more exciting, I rate this book at A*+ "I LOVE" the title of this book. Jayjay
Comment Comment | Permalink | Was this review helpful to you? Yes No (Report this)


Share your thoughts with other customers: Create your own review
 
 
 
Only search this product's reviews


Customer Discussions

 Beta (What's this?)
This product's forum (0 discussions)
  Discussion Replies Latest Post
  No discussions yet

Ask questions, Share opinions, Gain insight
Start a new discussion
Topic:
First post:
Prompts for sign-in
  [Cancel]


Active discussions in related forums
   
Related forums

Listmania!

Create a Listmania! list

Look for similar items by category

Feedback

The Body Shop

The Body Shop - Vitamin C Skin Boost
Protect and boost your glow with The Body Shop Vitamin C Skin Boost.

›Shop The Body Shop

  

Let Olay Amaze You

Olay Total Effects Day Moisturiser SPF15 50ml
Amazon.co.uk sells all your favourite ranges from Olay, including Regenerist and Total Effects.

›Discover Olay at Amazon.co.uk

  

We've Got Converse

Converse
Stock up on your favourite styles with great deals on Converse shoes.

›Shop Converse

  

Treat Someone

Amazon.co.uk Gift Certificates--available in any amount from £5 to £500 With an Amazon.co.uk Gift Certificate, you can get them what they want (even if you don't know what that is).

›Learn more about Gift Certificates

  
Ad

Where's My Stuff?

Delivery and Returns

Need Help?

Your Recent History

  (What's this?)
You have no recently viewed items or searches.

After viewing product detail pages or search results, look here to find an easy way to navigate back to pages you are interested in.

Look to the right column to find helpful suggestions for your shopping session.
Continue Shopping: Top Sellers

amazon.co.uk Amazon Home
International Sites:  United States  |  Germany  |  France  |  Japan  |  Canada  |  China
Business Programs: Sell on Amazon  |  Fulfilment by Amazon  |  Join Associates  |  Join Advantage
Customer Service  |  Help  |  View Basket  |  Your Account
About Amazon.co.uk  |  Careers at Amazon
Conditions of Use & Sale |  Privacy Notice  © 1996-2009, Amazon.com, Inc. and its affiliates