Our Forgotten Years

Overview

Full of the language and lore of the Gypsies, this remarkable memoir offers insight into the Romani way of life from an insider’s perspective. Maggie Smith-Bendell shares stories from her traditional Gypsy childhood in the rural South of England, from traveling the countryside and facing hardships, such as the death of a family member, to catching wild animals and earning a living from the woods, hedgerows, and fieldwork in the area. Moving and inspiring, this account also reflects upon the changes in the law and agriculture that have undermined the Gypsies’ sense of freedom and have contributed to the author’s position as a prominent campaigner for Gypsy rights. Filled with traditional recipes, crafts, old songs, and Romani words, this record includes the knowledge and skills that have been passed on from generation to generation.

Author Biography

Maggie Smith-Bendell is a Romani Gypsy and an activist for the Gypsy people. She works for the UK’s National Federation of Romani Gypsy & Traveler Liaison Groups and the South West Romany Gypsy Advisory Group.