There was really nothing strange in being a Romany Rye back in the Victorian Age. First coined by George Borrow in the title of this book, the term means, in the Gypsy language, a "Gypsy Gentleman," an outsider of some means and education accepted and adopted by the vagrant road people of the 19th century English countryside. Between the Napoleonic Era and the First World War, there were many such men, artists, intellectuals and romantic adventurers, who joined Gypsy wagon trains and lived in their encampments out in the ...
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There was really nothing strange in being a Romany Rye back in the Victorian Age. First coined by George Borrow in the title of this book, the term means, in the Gypsy language, a "Gypsy Gentleman," an outsider of some means and education accepted and adopted by the vagrant road people of the 19th century English countryside. Between the Napoleonic Era and the First World War, there were many such men, artists, intellectuals and romantic adventurers, who joined Gypsy wagon trains and lived in their encampments out in the wild. But George Borrow, the unparalleled polyglot and author of extravagant bestsellers, was the first and foremost of them all. Sequel to Lavengro, his childhood memoirs, The Romany Rye tells the story of Borrow's own vagabond years in the 1820s, when he trekked along with the free spirits of the open roads. These were the pristine days before the railroads wiped out the travelling habits of ages; before harsher laws and constables put a stop to all vagrancy; before the repeal of the Corn Laws, the advent of the Empire and the machinery of the Industrial Revolution turned England into a wealthier but much bleaker place. Borrow's world was still scenic, peopled by proud Gypsy families in their carts and tents, by itinerant artisans settling on the outskirts of villages only as long as there was work; by horse dealers and horse-thieves; pugilists, hedge preachers, con men, circus artists, robust postillions and bizarre undercover Catholic missionaries. With all of these George Borrow rubbed shoulders and shared daily life. He learned how they journeyed, how they spoke and thought, loved and fought, struck up friendships and settled enmities, how they faced the law and were a law unto themselves. Only vaguely dramatised, Borrow's Romany Rye is an eyewitness report to a vanished world. It is therefore a unique document which does not have its equal in Victorian letters.
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Add this copy of The Romany Rye to cart. $6.82, new condition, Sold by Ingram Customer Returns Center rated 5.0 out of 5 stars, ships from NV, USA, published 2017 by Createspace Independent Publishing Platform.
Add this copy of The Romany Rye to cart. $8.45, new condition, Sold by GreatBookPrices rated 4.0 out of 5 stars, ships from Columbia, MD, UNITED STATES, published 2017 by Createspace Independent Publishing Platform.
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Seller's Description:
New. Trade paperback (US). Glued binding. 166 p. Contains: Illustrations, black & white. Intended for a juvenile audience. In Stock. 100% Money Back Guarantee. Brand New, Perfect Condition, allow 4-14 business days for standard shipping. To Alaska, Hawaii, U.S. protectorate, P.O. box, and APO/FPO addresses allow 4-28 business days for Standard shipping. No expedited shipping. All orders placed with expedited shipping will be cancelled. Over 3, 000, 000 happy customers.
Add this copy of The Romany Rye to cart. $10.00, very good condition, Sold by Peter L Masi - Books rated 5.0 out of 5 stars, ships from Montague, MA, UNITED STATES, published 2015 by Yurita Press.
Add this copy of The Romany Rye to cart. $10.00, good condition, Sold by Dufour Editions Inc. rated 5.0 out of 5 stars, ships from Wyomissing, PA, UNITED STATES, published 1948 by The Cresset Press.
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Good. No Jacket. NO JACKET. bottom rear corner bumped at foredge, last several pages creased at bottom. distributor sticker on title page, top edge of text block shows dust stain.
Add this copy of The Romany Rye to cart. $12.50, very good condition, Sold by Goya Books rated 1.0 out of 5 stars, ships from Kittery Point, ME, UNITED STATES, published 1948 by The Cresset Press.
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Very Good in Very Good jacket. 8vo. Xxxii, 414 Pgs. With an introduction by Walter Starkie. This is Borrow on the gypsies of England--Starkie's introduction is an appreciation of Borrow as a man out of step with Victorian England--where " respectability had become a dogma." Dj darkened at spine, and with chips at head and tail.
Add this copy of The Romany Rye to cart. $14.46, new condition, Sold by Ingram Customer Returns Center rated 5.0 out of 5 stars, ships from NV, USA, published 2012 by Createspace Independent Publishing Platform.
Add this copy of The Romany Rye (Oxford Paperbacks) to cart. $14.99, good condition, Sold by Brit Books rated 5.0 out of 5 stars, ships from Milton Keynes, BUCKINGHAMSHIRE, UNITED KINGDOM, published 1984 by Oxford Paperbacks.
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Good. Simply Brit – welcome to our online used book store, where affordability meets great quality. Dive into a world of captivating reads without breaking the bank. We take pride in offering a wide selection of used books, from classics to hidden gems, ensuring there's something for every literary palate. All orders are shipped within 24 hours and our lightning fast-delivery within 48 hours coupled with our prompt customer service ensures a smooth journey from ordering to delivery. Discover the joy of reading with us, your trusted source for affordable books that do not compromise on quality.
Add this copy of The Romany Rye to cart. $15.00, very good condition, Sold by Riverow Bookshop rated 4.0 out of 5 stars, ships from Owego, NY, UNITED STATES, published 1948 by The Cresset Press.
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Very Good/Good Plus. London: The Cresset Press. Very Good/Good Plus. 1948.........Hardcover. Part of the Cresset Library-General Editor-John Hayward. Slight foxing on the foredge and endpapers. Contents clean and tight. Dustjacket is slightly faded with some chipping at the head and tail of the spine and the corners. Size: 8vo-over 7-1/2"-9-1/2" tall. 8vo..
Add this copy of The Romany Rye to cart. $15.46, new condition, Sold by Ingram Customer Returns Center rated 5.0 out of 5 stars, ships from NV, USA, published 2019 by Lector House.
I am fascinated by George Burrow and his ability with languages. He clearly is a smart guy with many life-adventures to call upon. But this story is something of a beach read. Interesting characters and settings, but nothing of a plot or substance that makes it an enduring classic.
He seems to have the ability to use word-play to create brilliance and I would bet he has done that in other works. But not this one. If you are going to read Burrow for the first time, try something else.