The Romany Rye

For other uses, seeThe Romany Rye (disambiguation).

The Romany Ryeis a novel byGeorge Borrow,written in 1857 as a sequel toLavengro(1851).

The novel

Largely thought to be at least partly autobiographical,The Romany Ryefollows fromLavengro(1851). The title can be translated fromRomanyas "Gypsy Gentleman". Mrs George Borrow wrote on 18 October 1853 toJohn Murray,his publisher, saying her husband had completed his work – "which he proposes to callThe Romany Rye – A Sequel to Lavengro."

The story itself follows the journey of a learned young man living withRomanies.It is a philosophical adventure story of sorts.The book involves meetings with a number of eccentric characters. It also contains what could be called ethnographic material on the customs and views of the Romani women. The author obtains a valuable horse from his Romani friend Jasper Petulengro and eventually sells it to a Hungarian at the Horncastle horse fair. As with Lavengro, the story ends rather abruptly with the author's realisation that the Romani language has close links to the Northern Indian languages: he resolves to travel to India but Borrow himself did not do so.

In popular culture

A pub located in Colman Road,Norwich,was namedThe Romany Rye,and laterThe Romany Beer Housebefore it ceased trading in November 2008.TheWetherspoonspublic house chain used the nameRomany Ryefor their pub, opened inDereham,Norfolk, in 2011. Borrow was born in the town.

External links

• The Romany RyeatProject Gutenberg
• LavengroatStandard EbooksincludesThe Romany Rye