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
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
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
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
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
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*
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.
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.
However, I will gladly take suggestions for any listed categories if anyone has read a book not listed above.
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