Gypsy Folk Tales

Metadata

Gutenberg ID

—

Title

Gypsy Folk Tales

Language

en

Book source

Global Grey

Description max 80 words

Francis Hindes Groome presents a comprehensive late-19th-century collection of Romani folk-tales gathered from across Europe. This volume offers traditional legends from Turkish, Roumanian, Bukowina, Transylvanian, Slovak, Polish, English, Welsh, and Scottish traditions, enriched by comparative notes on migration, ethnology, and folklore history.

Summary up to 500 words

In *Gypsy Folk Tales*, Francis Hindes Groome presents a comprehensive collection of folklore gathered over two decades of study, positioning himself not as a professional scholar but as an enthusiastic amateur dedicated to preserving the 'great Egyptian Question.' The volume is structured geographically, featuring sections dedicated to Turkish, Romanian, Bukowina, Transylvanian, Slovak, Moravian, Bohemian, Polish, English, Welsh, and Scottish traditions. Groome acknowledges the significant loss of contemporary scholars who contributed to the field, such as Dr. Paspati and the Welsh-Gypsy harper John Roberts, while expressing deep gratitude to John Sampson and Rev. Thomas Davidson for their generous support and access to rare collections. The introduction provides a sweeping historical overview of the Gypsy people, noting their unparalleled dispersion across Europe and Asia since the fifteenth century. Groome details their initial reception in various cities, often characterized by suspicion and accusations of theft or sorcery, citing contemporary accounts from the early 1400s that describe bands arriving in Germany, France, and Italy. Despite being labeled 'Heathens' or 'Saracens,' these groups often held safe-conducts from emperors and popes, though they were frequently viewed as beggars or thieves. The narrative core of the book consists of specific tales that illustrate the moral and magical dimensions of Gypsy life. In 'Pazorrhus,' a hero defeats dragons to win an emperor's daughter, a story that Groome notes lacks a direct non-Gypsy variant. 'The Rich and The Poor Brother' explores themes of greed and redemption, where a brother trades his eyes for bread, is restored by devils, and ultimately restores water to a drought-stricken city. Similarly, 'The Three Brothers' follows a youngest sibling who sacrifices his sight to feed his family, only to regain his vision through the aid of crows and heal a sick princess to become a king. Another tale, 'The Enchanted City,' features a protagonist who enters a stone-people kingdom guided by a cat, eventually defeating devils and restoring life. Beyond the stories, Groome provides rich context regarding Gypsy culture, particularly their metallurgical skills. He documents their historical roles as bellows-makers, silversmiths, and founders, citing evidence of Gypsy involvement in casting church bells and creating intricate silverwork in Scotland and elsewhere. The book serves as a vital bridge between Gypsy and non-Gypsy folklore, preserving variants that might otherwise have been lost and offering a detailed tapestry of a migratory people who, despite centuries of wandering, maintained a distinct identity and contributed significantly to the cultural heritage of the regions they traversed.

LLM editorial rating

4.2/5

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Categories

• Folklore