A Field Full of Butterflies: Memories of a Romany Childhood by Rosemary Penfold, Orion, $22.99.
When Rosemary Penfold’s mother left her “gadje” (non-roaming) life to marry a Romany, who could not read or write, she never looked back.
“We were her life,” writes UK-born gypsy Rosemary, now 73, who along with her three brothers, was born in her parents “vardoe”, or wagon, but would ultimately return to the gadje way of life when she married at 18.
This honest, funny, humble, yet proud little memoir, is no great tearjerker, has no place in literature or chapters to shock; but is a spellbinding, vivid, first-hand account of a way of life and freedom that belonged to another time.
There’s Granny with a roll of money in her pinny pocket, Granfer, with his silver kiss curl, and old brown Trilby, and the “varmints” (troublesome children) gobbling skinned rabbit stew on the caravan steps.
Attending a gadje school, the “dirty gyppo” kids suffered prejudice the moment they stepped foot in their first ever building.
Winters were cold, provisions few, but love abundant; mum suffering malnutrition from going without herself to feed her brood during punishing war years.
“I dream about my childhood. It seems like paradise,” is Rosemary’s testament to traditions that taught dignity and fortitude, generosity and gratitude.
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