Books: The Roma - A Travelling History, by Madeline Potter
A unique blend of memoir, travelogue and history of an othered and misunderstood people – and a celebration of resistance and resilience.
Published 22 May 2025
Bodley Head is part of Vintage
£22| Hardback | ebook
The Roma is a profoundly personal portrait of a people and their on-going journey, shedding new light on their history in countries through which they’ve travelled and in which they’ve settled, and
what it means to be Romani in Europe today.
It is a history that is not widely understood, and that invisibility has created a space where fear and hostility continue to thrive. The Roma, as well as being full of fascinating stories and extraordinary individuals, is a powerful corrective to the stereotyping and prejudices that Romani communities still face today.
We meet Ceija Stojka, the Roma artist who chronicled her experiences of the Holocaust in Austria; Johann Trollmann, the Sinto boxer who should have become Germany’s light-heavyweight champion only to have his win scratched from the record by the Nazis; and Mary Squires, the
nineteenth-century Romani who was accused of kidnapping a young woman and sentenced to death
only to be exonerated thanks to some detective work by an unconvinced judge.
Throughout, Madeline Potter weaves in her travels though contemporary Romani Europe as well as
strands of her own journey as a Romani woman in Romania and now the UK. In so doing she deftly
blends explorative history with intimate accounts of racism to create a work of history that is also
urgent, timely and forward-looking.
About the author
Madeline Potter was born in Romania in 1989 and grew up Romani in nineties post-Communist Romania.
She now lives in Scotland and is a scholar of nineteenth century literature at the University of Edinburgh, having earned her PhD from the University of York in 2020.
PRAISE FOR THE ROMA
‘A book that will inspire and inform. Potter helps us absorb the atmosphere of Romani communities
through the stories of prominent Romani individuals sharing engaging and illuminating experience
that spans different places and times and offers insights into culture and history’ Yaron Martas
‘The Roma is a brilliant and vital exploration that intertwines Potter’s personal journey with the rich,
overlooked history of the Roma people… Compelling accounts and vivid narratives challenge
stereotypes, revealing the Roma’s resilience while rejecting romanticism and fear-based portrayals… A captivating invitation to see the Roma in their full humanity’ Professor David Morley
‘Heartbreaking and hopeful, this book takes us on a journey through centuries of Romani history and
culture. Potter celebrates the resilience and beauty of the Roma, while bearing witness to the trauma
of relentless persecution. In the face of modern far-right politics, The Roma feels urgent and
necessary’ Tabitha Stanmore
‘Epic in scale and ambition, Madeline Potter’s The Roma belongs alongside TR Fehrenbach’s
Comanches as an extraordinary history of a misunderstood people. Potter’s lucid prose creates a
history that doubles as an utterly compelling personal journey’ Lanre Bakare
‘Here, the past speaks to the present. The Roma mingles fireside tales, testimony and sound historical research. This wise and beautiful book has not left my side’ Jo Clement
‘Evocative and intriguing… This book is intimate and wide-ranging, magical yet ruggedly realistic. I was moved by Potter's love for her heritage, as well as her rigour in watering her roots. As a tribute to storytelling and as a personal journey alike, this book is to be treasured’ Bidisha
Vintage press release/TT News
(Lead photo - book cover courtesy of Vintage and cropped for link photo usage by TT News)