“A deeply sympathetic picture of Romani life over the centuries.” –Wall Street Journal
“A spellbinding tale of resilience and survival in the face of widespread bigotry and violence.”—Boston Globe
A unique, deeply personal portrait of the nomadic Romani people and their on-going journey that sheds new light on their history, where they have traveled and settled, and what it means to be Romani today.
The word Roma conjures images of free-spirited nomads, creative and easy-going people who choose to eschew social conformity for personal independence and a life on the road. Few know these people’s long, tortuous history of being harassed, expelled, deported, demonized, enslaved, and murdered. The Roma is a fascinating history of this people observed from within their world that moves away from stereotypes and the tragedy that has defined them. While Madeline Potter does not overlook the deeply held racism and oppression they have endured, she instead celebrates the Roma’s strength and endurance, their ability to resist and survive.
Blending memoir and archival research, her sweeping, heartfelt traveling history moves across Europe, from Tudor England to Romania where she was born and raised; from sixteenth-century Spain to modern Sweden; from Nazi Austria to twenty-first-century France to uncover the interwoven stories and struggles of Romani communities past and present, and what the future may hold for both nomadic, and settled, families on the continent.
The Roma illuminates the overlooked history of Romani individuals and communities throughout the world. By reflecting on her own experiences as a Romani woman, and the stereotyping, marginalization, and racism she has endured, Potter creates a full-bodied, far-reaching history of a people often maligned and misunderstood, and pays tribute to a culture and its traditions.
How does a culture endure centuries of persecution—from enslavement in Romania to the Romani Holocaust—while keeping its vibrant traditions alive?
- Resilience and Survival: Moving beyond tragedy, this memoir celebrates the strength and endurance of Romani communities, from their migration from India to the present day.
- An Insider’s Perspective: Written by a Romani scholar, the book blends Madeline Potter’s own experiences in Romania with deep archival research to create an authentic, heartfelt account.
- The Romani Holocaust: A vital look at the Samudaripen, the often-overlooked genocide of the Roma and Sinti during the Second World War, bringing forgotten histories to light.
- Sweeping European History: Journey across the continent, from the royal courts of sixteenth-century Spain to the camps of Nazi Austria, to uncover the interwoven struggles and triumphs of the Roma.