The Romani Gypsies

“A much needed book on Europe’s most misunderstood population… The book aims to take stock of the Romani Gypsies today—where they might come from, their history as a people, their culture and customs, and the issues they face today… It is a story of suffering that parallels the trials of Jews in Europe. However, while the Holocaust has at the very least made Europe grapple with its history of anti-Semitism, there has been no such reckoning for the Romani… Part of the immense value of this book by Matras is that it works to paint a complex picture of who the Romani are beyond the picture of a woman begging in the street… For the information alone, the book should be required reading in Europe and for anyone interested in the continent’s history.”—William O’Connor, The Daily Beast

“Required reading for anyone who presumes to have views on Romani Gypsies.”—Financial Times

“As Matras makes plain in this rich, colorful account, much of what people think they know about the Roma—their proper name, sometimes rendered as Roms—is wrong… Matras punctures the distorted images of Roma and probes Romany beliefs and opinions about everything from gender roles, age, and work to marriage, shame, and religion. The reader comes away far less ignorant about this inward-looking and often persecuted group.”—Robert Legvold, Foreign Affairs

“Yaron Matras has spent many years getting to know inward-looking Roma communities across Europe, winning their trust and unravelling their history, language and customs… Immaculately researched, warm and comprehensive.”—The Guardian