“A deeply sympathetic picture of Romani life over the centuries.” –Wall Street Journal

“A spellbinding tale of resilience and survival in the face of widespread bigotry and violence.”—Boston Globe

A unique, deeply personal portrait of the nomadic Romani people and their on-going journey that sheds new light on their history, where they have traveled and settled, and what it means to be Romani today.

The word Roma conjures images of free-spirited nomads, creative and easy-going people who choose to eschew social conformity for personal independence and a life on the road. Few know these people’s long, tortuous history of being harassed, expelled, deported, demonized, enslaved, and murdered. The Roma is a fascinating history of this people observed from within their world that moves away from stereotypes and the tragedy that has defined them. While Madeline Potter does not overlook the deeply held racism and oppression they have endured, she instead celebrates the Roma’s strength and endurance, their ability to resist and survive.

Blending memoir and archival research, her sweeping, heartfelt traveling history moves across Europe, from Tudor England to Romania where she was born and raised; from sixteenth-century Spain to modern Sweden; from Nazi Austria to twenty-first-century France to uncover the interwoven stories and struggles of Romani communities past and present, and what the future may hold for both nomadic, and settled, families on the continent.

The Roma illuminates the overlooked history of Romani individuals and communities throughout the world. By reflecting on her own experiences as a Romani woman, and the stereotyping, marginalization, and racism she has endured, Potter creates a full-bodied, far-reaching history of a people often maligned and misunderstood, and pays tribute to a culture and its traditions.

“Elegant and impressive … a powerful call for equality.” — Publishers Marketplace (starred review)

“This earnest account will deliver an unsettling education to American readers who are almost certainly unaware that a million Roma live in the country. . . . [Potter brings] Well-deserved attention to a genuinely neglected minority." — Kirkus Reviews

"Without overlooking or playing down the Roma’s tragic history, [Potter] celebrates Romani arts and folklore, honors individual heroes and heroines, and praises the resilience that has ensured the Roma’s survival. Her book adroitly blends personal memoir and academic research to craft a deeply sympathetic picture of Romani life over the centuries."
— Wall Street Journal

“By turns heartbreaking and hopeful, this book takes us on a journey through centuries of Romani history and culture. Madeline Potter celebrates the resilience and beauty of the Roma, while bearing witness to the trauma of fairly relentless persecution. In the face of modern far-right politics, The Roma feels urgent and necessary.”  — Tabitha Stanmore, author of Cunning Folk 

“…a spellbinding tale of resilience and survival in the face of widespread bigotry and violence.” — Boston Globe

“The heart of an empath beats behind every page. . . . This book is an ode to Madeline Potter’s people and culture. Her upbringing in a Romani family during a time of upheaval—as nomadic traditions are eroding rapidly in the face of globalization and technological advancements—lends an important authenticity and lived experience to her writing.” — Chicago Review of Books

“A fascinating look at a marginalized and misunderstood group of people who have encountered hostility for centuries.” — Associated Press

“The Roma: A Traveling History is a brilliant and vital exploration that intertwines Madeline Potter’s personal journey with the rich, often overlooked history of the Roma people. Through compelling accounts and vivid narratives, it challenges stereotypes, revealing the Roma’s resilience while rejecting romanticism and fear-based portrayals. As MP Jo Cox said, 'We are far more united and have far more in common with each other than things that divide us'—a truth that resonates powerfully throughout this captivating invitation to see the Roma in their full humanity.” — Professor David Morley, author of The Gypsy and the Poet

“Epic in scale and ambition, Madeline Potter’s The Roma belongs alongside T.R. 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, author of We Were There

“From mediaeval manuscripts to the city streets of the modern West, Madeline Potter traces the delicate constellations of Romani history. Deftly including episodes from her own life, Potter reminds us that history does not happen to 'peoples', but to people: individuals who, but for fate and chance, might have been ourselves in another time, or born to another tribe. A sophisticated braid of underappreciated threads in human experience and history.” — Damian Le Bas, author of The Stopping Places

“Evocative and intriguing. The Roma lets the reader in on a world which is at once intimate and wide-ranging, magical yet ruggedly realistic. I was moved by Potter's love for her heritage, as well as her rigor in watering her roots. As a tribute to storytelling and as a personal journey alike, this book is to be treasured”  — Bidisha

“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, author of Outlandish