Synopses & Reviews
It has only recently been accepted that during World War II, hundreds of thousands of Gypsies met the same fate as Jews and other Nazi victims. Gypsies seem to appeal to the imagination simply as social outcasts and scapegoats, or, in a flattering but no more illuminating light, as romantic outsiders. The world is patently intrigued by them, yet at the same time regards them with anxiety as 'undesirable aliens'.
Where does such enmity come from? What is the substance behind such prejudice? In this study contemporary notions about Gypsies are traced back as far as possible to their roots, hoping to lay bare why stigmatisation of Gypsies, or rather groups labelled as such, has continued from the distant past to the present day.
Synopsis
It has only been recognised tardily and with reluctance that during the Second World War hundreds of thousands of itinerants met the same horrendous fate as Jews and other victims of Nazism. Gypsies appear to appeal to the imagination simply as social outcasts and scapegoats or, in a flattering but no more illuminating light, as romantic outsiders.
In this study, contemporary notions about Gypsies are traced back as far as possible to their roots, in an attempt to lay bare why stigmatisation of gypsies, or rather groups labelled as such, has continuned from the distant past even to today.