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A Field Full of Butterflies: Memories of a Romany Childhood
Rosemary Penfold was born in 1938 in a traditional Gypsy wagon, and grew up in the fields of the English countryside. In this beautiful and evocative memoir, she recounts her life within a loving extended family and small but close-knit community.
From early memories of her father bringing home oranges during the war, to the simple beauty of a field full of butterflies on a hot summer's day, Rosemary's stunningly elegant narrative captures the love and losses, hopes and struggles, traditions and prejudices that bound her to her family and helped her adapt to a fast-changing world.
Rosemary's story is a moving testament to a forgotten world and a rapidly disappearing way of life.
From early memories of her father bringing home oranges during the war, to the simple beauty of a field full of butterflies on a hot summer's day, Rosemary's stunningly elegant narrative captures the love and losses, hopes and struggles, traditions and prejudices that bound her to her family and helped her adapt to a fast-changing world.
Rosemary's story is a moving testament to a forgotten world and a rapidly disappearing way of life.
291 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2011
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377 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 47 reviews
February 3, 2021
What a sweet book! Rosemary was born in a Gypsy wagon in 1938, and experienced a wondrous childhood ... the kind that is so very rare these days. She takes you through her childhood ... the close-knit loving family, the fun times, the tragic events, the discrimination leveled at them, her childish games and pranks (she could be a handful! ... lol), and so much more.
In the preface she says, "These are my memories and mine alone." So, if it seems she makes less of the rough times, and emphasises the good times, then that is probably how it felt to her growing up. I, for one, appreciate how deeply she enjoyed her childhood, and I'm glad she shared it with me.
4 Stars = Outstanding. It definitely held my interest.
In the preface she says, "These are my memories and mine alone." So, if it seems she makes less of the rough times, and emphasises the good times, then that is probably how it felt to her growing up. I, for one, appreciate how deeply she enjoyed her childhood, and I'm glad she shared it with me.
4 Stars = Outstanding. It definitely held my interest.
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January 12, 2020Read Fires in the Dark instead?
Now I have been told this is good, so I don't know.
Now I have been told this is good, so I don't know.
January 11, 2018
Nostalgic memoir of growing up as a gypsy that was enjoyable in parts but didn't hold my interest the whole way through
February 16, 2014
Charming memoirs of a childhood in the English countryside. Not so much an expose of the Gypsy life as it is a remembrance of a life well lived with a focus on what's important. Much of the Gypsy aspects of the story are merely ancillary or background to it rather than a focus. And many of the stories don't sound all too dissimilar to stories of my own family growing up in depression-era coal country of Pennsylvania. A book NOT to be looked at as a source for a deeper understanding of Gypsy beliefs and practices as it is a look at the things that we all share in common as humans, whether Gypsy or gadje.
September 25, 2022
Mildly interesting picture of her childhood, but nothing happens. If you stare at the same picture for too long it becomes boring. Couldn't finish it.
July 2, 2011
I never really connected with any of the characters and felt it over-romanticized their lives. I gave it three stars because I did like the scenes where they went to school and were first exposed to mainstream culture. It's worth a library read, but probably not worth purchasing. I preferred the novel Fires in the Dark.
June 7, 2011
Informative and interesting, unfortunately neither the author's voice nor the structure of the book captivate.
February 8, 2019
A really lovely story about Romany gypsies and the prejudices they have had to overcome through out their lives.
January 2, 2019
I'm not a fan of memoirs & biographies but the thought of a Romany childhood intrigued me as there's something a touch romantic about a gypsy caravan meandering down country lanes - though thats a very idealised notion I know - but there's none of that here!
While it's a nostalgic tale of a lost world, to some extent it could be any pre-war childhood in which money is scarce & children had to make their own amusements (ah... the days before X boxes, wiis or whatever the current fad is, when children - shock, horror - actually played OUTSIDE!!). My main disappointment in the story was the family's caravans were based on a site so no romantic meanderings here. I admit to having had some stereotypical ideas of Romanys before reading this eg: homes being scrupulously clean, closeness & camaraderie of the families, & those ideas are reinforced.
It's a pleasant tale, the bulk of which features the authors young years. Rosemary's teenage years were in a few rushed chapters at the end - personally I'd have been happy if these had been skipped & the tale just concentrated on her pre-teen years. Overall, it's a nice, quite interesting read, one which I think older readers would find a lot to identify with. What has stayed with me, however, is the treatment of the children at school - shocking! Some of the teachers were nothing but bullies.
While it's a nostalgic tale of a lost world, to some extent it could be any pre-war childhood in which money is scarce & children had to make their own amusements (ah... the days before X boxes, wiis or whatever the current fad is, when children - shock, horror - actually played OUTSIDE!!). My main disappointment in the story was the family's caravans were based on a site so no romantic meanderings here. I admit to having had some stereotypical ideas of Romanys before reading this eg: homes being scrupulously clean, closeness & camaraderie of the families, & those ideas are reinforced.
It's a pleasant tale, the bulk of which features the authors young years. Rosemary's teenage years were in a few rushed chapters at the end - personally I'd have been happy if these had been skipped & the tale just concentrated on her pre-teen years. Overall, it's a nice, quite interesting read, one which I think older readers would find a lot to identify with. What has stayed with me, however, is the treatment of the children at school - shocking! Some of the teachers were nothing but bullies.
March 17, 2019
This was a worthwhile project, but very badly written. The writing was poorly structured, full of needless precious comments and at times repetitive.
Nevertheless what came through for me was a beautiful pride in family and identity, a discussion of how harmful and unfair bullying is and an overwhelming optimistic tendency to look to the kindness and wisdom in (some) people. The take home message was that it always matters how you treat people.
The book looked at things like poverty, dignity, autonomy and asked some hard questions about the point of education when it is merely control and not liberation. I did not get the impression Rose would necessarily have been worse off if she didn't go to school although she began to excel when there was a better principal in charge.
It seems to me that the motivation for this memoir was love, and that part of it is worthwhile. This is a very different view of a Gypsy lifestyle than the one I recently read in Stef Penney's book, but this seems to have more credibility even if I can sense that aspects of the life have been idealised, and maybe gendered problems have been papered over.
Nevertheless what came through for me was a beautiful pride in family and identity, a discussion of how harmful and unfair bullying is and an overwhelming optimistic tendency to look to the kindness and wisdom in (some) people. The take home message was that it always matters how you treat people.
The book looked at things like poverty, dignity, autonomy and asked some hard questions about the point of education when it is merely control and not liberation. I did not get the impression Rose would necessarily have been worse off if she didn't go to school although she began to excel when there was a better principal in charge.
It seems to me that the motivation for this memoir was love, and that part of it is worthwhile. This is a very different view of a Gypsy lifestyle than the one I recently read in Stef Penney's book, but this seems to have more credibility even if I can sense that aspects of the life have been idealised, and maybe gendered problems have been papered over.
August 3, 2019
Really enjoyed this one! It is the childhood memoirs of Rosemary Penfold who came from a Romany family. Rosemary grew up in a traditional “vardo” with all of her family around her. I loved reading about a different way of life and seeing it from the view of a child was interesting. Such a shame the way some people treat people depending on how they chose to live their lives. At the end of the day everyone is human and life wouldn’t be what it is if we were all the same.
Lovely read and an insight into a different way of living. It seems like an idyllic way of life. I’m guessing the author uses the idea of a field full of butterflies for the metaphor for this way of life, something that is beautiful but is only brief.
Really enjoyed this book as it was different to a usual fiction book that I read and has taught me a lot about this way of life.
Lovely read and an insight into a different way of living. It seems like an idyllic way of life. I’m guessing the author uses the idea of a field full of butterflies for the metaphor for this way of life, something that is beautiful but is only brief.
Really enjoyed this book as it was different to a usual fiction book that I read and has taught me a lot about this way of life.
September 20, 2025
This book was just what I needed. Rosie's childhood growing up a Romany in the 1940s countryside. Her family life was not without financial hardships, but it was lovely to read about the many animals, days spent outside, time in the wagon and her family. Her Granfer (Grandad) and Gran were real characters with sweet souls. I was sad to finish this one, as I didn't want it to end. Reminded me of family of me own
July 7, 2018
A fascinating insight of growing up as a Romany Gypsy. Rosemary tells the story with much fondness and humour of her life within the close-knit community and extended family.
Despite the hardships what shines through is the freedom and simple fun had.
The characters are portrayed so lovingly that by the end it's quite a bitter pill to swallow.
An enchanting story of a disappearing lifestyle.
Despite the hardships what shines through is the freedom and simple fun had.
The characters are portrayed so lovingly that by the end it's quite a bitter pill to swallow.
An enchanting story of a disappearing lifestyle.
February 27, 2023
I gave up a quarter of the way in, the editing and repetition of subjects was just too much. Would of been a nice easy book to read but the frustration of reading one sentence, then the next paragraph starts off with the same sentence was annoying. It did sound like a nice family and great community that she grew up in.
January 6, 2019
I enjoyed reading about the Romany culture, there were some very heart warming moments, but a lot was repeated, just written in different ways.
October 30, 2019
A delightful memoir of a Romany childhood with everything that their lifestyle entails. Freedom, hard work, poverty, discrimination .. but most of all family came first.
November 10, 2019
Very nostalgic and a great view into an ancient culture.
April 12, 2020
Loved this. It was simply written and a bit jumbled and disjointed but who cares really. Really sweet and interesting personal memoir of the Romany way of life in bygone years.
May 3, 2020
Quite boring and not very captivative.
April 9, 2021
Rosemary Penfold reflects on her childhood as a Gypsy, living in a Vargoe (Caravan) attending school in the nearby village. Beautiful recollections of her childhood and Gypsy life.
September 20, 2021
Charming and well-written.
June 4, 2023
Good read. Loved it
June 14, 2023
Well-written memoir of growing up in a Romany camp in England during and after the second world war. Rosemary has a wonderfully vivid writing style and a great memory.
A joy to read.
A joy to read.
July 6, 2023
Its was an interesting read but incredibly monotonous.
January 23, 2025
Sweet and evocative memoir of a much-loved family, their Romany life and bygone days. Uplifting.
February 6, 2025
A memoir of anecdotes, interesting and amusing at times yet heavily tinged with the bitter sadness of discrimination and prejudice .
August 24, 2025
A lovely portrayal of gypsy life after the war. Close family life living hand to mouth from school days to teenage years to adulthood. Community sharing and caring.
December 29, 2025
Interesting to read about a different way of life.
October 28, 2012
Rosemary's story of her childhood is at once beautiful in it's nostalgia, and heartbreaking when we have to see those we had come to love leave this world. The kindness of strangers, and the cruel misunderstandings of others are intertwined into a beautiful tale of a Romany childhood.
I did want to address something in the preface of this book written by Sarah Churchill....She was explaining how the Romany life was coming to an end due to the changes in society. She asked, "where are the American indians now?" Well to answer her question, we are everywhere. Like the Romany's many of us are of mixed blood now, and so it's not always easy to tell who has indian in them, and who doesn't. I myself often compare the gypsies, and the indians, but not asking where are they now. I obviously know where they are. I compare them because of the fact they're both forced to live in ways unatural to them. I found this, "where are they now" question to be a little silly, as if implying we have all died off or something.
I did want to address something in the preface of this book written by Sarah Churchill....She was explaining how the Romany life was coming to an end due to the changes in society. She asked, "where are the American indians now?" Well to answer her question, we are everywhere. Like the Romany's many of us are of mixed blood now, and so it's not always easy to tell who has indian in them, and who doesn't. I myself often compare the gypsies, and the indians, but not asking where are they now. I obviously know where they are. I compare them because of the fact they're both forced to live in ways unatural to them. I found this, "where are they now" question to be a little silly, as if implying we have all died off or something.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 47 reviews