Human In Progress

There are lots of books that have been written about Romani people. In fact, we tend to be well represented in fiction. However, that representation is often one of stereotypes, slurs, and racism. And, due to the rampant misinformation and stereotypes about us, it has been incredibly difficult for a non-Romani audience to distinguish accurate portrayals from stereotyped ones. I’m hoping this list may help that.

Romani Portrayals of Roma in Literature | Good Reads:

The Roads of the Roma: A PEN Anthology of Gypsy Writers

American Gypsy by Oksana Marafioti 

The Lost Country by Luminiţa Mihai Cioabă The Birch Grove by Luminiţa Mihai Cioabă Queen of the Night and Stone Flower by Luminiţa Mihai Cioabă Meralda by Luminiţa Mihai Cioabă 

Katitzi by Katarina Taikon

We Live in Seclusion: The Memoirs of a Romni by Ceija Stojka Travellers on this World by Ceija Stojka Träume ich, dass ich lebe by Ceija Stojka

Auf der ganzen Welt zu Hause by Karl Stojka

Papierene Kinder: Gluck, Zerstorung und Neubeginn einer Roma-Femilie in Osterreich by Mongo Stojka

Zwischen Liebe und Hass. Ein Zigeunerleben by Philomena Franz Zigeunermärchen by Philomena Franz

Gipsy: Die Geschichte einer großen Sinti Familie by Dotschy Reinhardt Everybody’s Gypsy.  Popkultur zwischen Ausgrenzung und Respekt by Dotschy Reinhardt

Devla, devla! by Irena Eliasova

Frosted Mirror by Erika Olahova

Sar o Paj by Hedina Tahirović Sijerčić Romani Women in Canada: Spectrum of the Blue Water by Hedina Tahirović Sijerčić Rromane Paramicha by Hedina Tahirović Sijerčić Dukh by Hedina Tahirović Sijerčić Romani Prince Penga by Hedina Tahirović Sijerčić An Unusual Family by Hedina Tahirović Sijerčić Karankochi-Kochi by Hedina Tahirović Sijerčić How God Made the Roma by Hedina Tahirović Sijerčić The Fish by Hedina Tahirović Sijerčić Four Brothers by Hedina Tahirović Sijerčić Romany Legends by Hedina Tahirović Sijerčić ROM Like Thunder by Hedina Tahirović Sijerčić Roads Without Caravans by Mateo Maximoff Eve’s Garden by Glenda Bailey-Mershon Polttava tie by Veijo Baltzar

Disrupting the Nation by Ethel Brooks

The Color of Smoke by Menyhert Lakatos

Fires in the Dark by Louise Doughty Stone Cradle by Louise Doughty

The Living Fire by Ronald Lee Goddam Gypsy by Ronald Lee We Are the Romani People by Ian Hancock Danger! Educated Gypsy by Ian Hancock A History of the Romani People by Ian Hancock & Hristo Kyuchukov The Heroic Present by Ian Hancock & Jan Yoors

We are the Roma! by Valeriu Nicolae

Informative Literature by non-Roma:

All Change!: Romani Studies through Romani Eyes by Damian Le Bas

Gypsy Law by Walter Otto Weyrauch

Romani Routes by Carol Silverman

The Gypsies by Jan Yoors

And the Violins Stopped Playing by Alexander Ramati

Journeys into Memory: Romani Identity and the Holocaust in Autobiographical Writing by German and Austrian Romanies by Marianne Christine Zwicker

Mediocre Portrayals of Roma in Literature:

Bury Me Standing by Isabel Fonseca

The Nazi Persecution of the Gypsies by Guenter Lewy

I Met Lucky People by Yaron Matras The Romani Gypsies by Yaron Matras

Between Two Fires by Alaina Lemon

A History of the Gypsies by David Crowe

The Gypsies by Angus Fraser

Gypsies: Wanderers of the World by Bart McDowell

The Roma Cafe by Istvan Pogany

Gypsy Boy by Mikey Walsh

Dosha by Sonia Meyer

Yokki and the Parno Gry by Katherine Quarmby & Richard O’Neill No Place to Call Home by Katherine Quarmby Romani Pilgrims by Katherine Quarmby

Romani Culture and Gypsy Identity by Thomas Acton

Bad, Racist, & Outright Inaccurate Portrayals of Roma in Literature:

Gypsy Wisdom, Spells, Charms & Folklore by Denise Alvarado

The Gypsies by Charles Leland Gypsy Sorcery and Fortune Telling by Charles Leland

The Gypsy Lifestyle by John McLaughlin

The Rom: Walking in the Paths of the Gypsies by Roger Moreau Your Ancient Gypsy Guide to Wild Sex by Roger Moreau

Gypsy Talk by Dennis Marlock

Zoli by Column McCann

Guy Mannering by Sir Walter Scott

Gypsy Feast by Carol Wilson

Gypsy Folk Tales by Diane Tong Gypsies by Diane Tong

The Diddakoi by Rumer Godden

The Hunchback of Notre Dame by Victor Hugo

Along the Enchanted Way by William Blacker

Thinner by Stephen King

Little Money Street by Fernanda Eberstadt

The Romany Rye by George Henry Borrow Lavengro by George Henry Borrow Romano Lavo-lil by George Henry Borrow

Mulengro by Charles de Lint

Romani Ways by G.E.C. Webb

Gypsy at Heart by Ellen Dugan

Gypsy by Trisha Leigh

The Gipsies by Francis Hindes Groome In Gipsy Tents by Francis Hindes Groome Gypsy Folk Tales by Francis Hindes Groome Gipsy Folk Tales: A Missing Link by Francis Hindes Groome The Influence of the Gypsies on the Superstitions of the English Folk by Francis Hindes Groome

Poor Janos: A Tale of Hungarian Gipsy Life by Frank Elemeny

Coffee, Tea, the Gypsy & Me by Caroline James

The Gypsies: Wanderers in Time by Katherine Esty

Sarah of the Romani: A Thriller by Tom Calen

Secrets of the Gypsies by Pierre Derlon

Les Tziganes by J. Clebert

The European by John Geipel

Acquittal by Serenity Valle

Books Written by non-Romani Fraudsters:

Gypsy Energy Secrets by Milana Perepyolkina

Gypsy Magic by Patrinella Cooper*

Dogstown by Lee Fuhler

Romany by Gypsy Putelengro A Romany Life by Gypsy Putelengro

The Roots of Health by Leon Putelengro Romany Boy by Leon Putelengro

Buckland’s Book of Gypsy Magic by Raymond Buckland Gypsy Witchcraft by Raymond Buckland Secrets of Gypsy Fortune Telling by Raymond Buckland Secrets of Gypsy Love Magick by Raymond Buckland The Buckland Romani Tarot by Raymond Buckland Gypsy Dream Reading by Raymond Buckland Gypsy Dream Dictionary by Raymond Buckland

Gypsy Magic: For the Prosperity’s Soul by Allie Theiss Gypsy Magic: For the Lover’s Soul by Allie Theiss

Drab Lil: A Gypsy’s Medicine Book by Clarissa Simmens Madame Sosostris Explains by Clarissa Simmens

*Patrinella Cooper actually does have direct ties to Romani culture and is said to be ethnically Roma, but completely fabricated the information in her book.

Just a Note:

I have intentionally left out quite a few books written by non-Roma about Roma during the Holocaust because I have not read many such books, and do not feel I could judge their accuracy or objectivity without actually reading them.

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