George Borrow (1803-1881)
The greatest of English writers about gypsy life.
George Borrow was an eccentric character, renowned for his unconventional writing. He spoke dozens of languages, and even mastered north-east China’s Manchu language in less than a month. He was a great traveller, and wrote about his adventures in Spain, Wales and many other countries.
George’s book Wild Wales was a ‘romantic account of his Welsh tours’. (Credit: Wikipedia Commons)
George also had a lifelong interest in nomadic people, particularly the Romany. He immersed himself in gypsy culture, visiting their camps across Britain, Europe and Russia. He learnt their language and customs, wrote about them in his books and produced an English-Romany dictionary. To recognise George’s contribution, and to mark the anniversary of his death, a gypsy festival was held in Brompton Cemetery every year until 1939.
There was a gypsy encampment at Latymer (now Latimer) Road in Hammersmith. Pauper burials were paid for by the parish at Brompton Cemetery in 1861 for a two-day-old baby girl, Ocean Smith, and William Boswell, aged 11 months. (Credit: Wikipedia Commons)
Further information
George’s literary legacy lives on through the George Borrow Society, which promotes his life and work. The society members also restored George’s elegant grave in 2009. (Credit: Greywolf)
George Borrow (Credit: © The National Portrait Gallery, London (CC BY-NC-ND 3.0))
