King of the Gypsies

by Peter Maas

from For a variety of reasons, many Romanies choose not to register their ethnic identity in official censuses. There are an estimated four million Romani people in Europe (as of 2002),[40] although some high estimates by Romani organizations give numbers as high as 14 million.[41] Significant Romani populations are found in the Balkan peninsula, in some Central European states, in Spain, France, Russia and Ukraine. Several million more Romanies may live out of Europe, in particular in the Middle East and in the Americas. ~ Hinduism is the foundation for Roma religious beliefs and the concept of kuntari, a universal balance, is central to the people's spiritual realm. Kuntari means that all things belong in the universe according to their natural place. However, animals such as the flightless hen and frogs, an animal with the ability to negotiate both land and water, are considered to be out of balance and are, therefore, inherently unlucky—consequently, Roma avoid both hens' eggs and frogs. The Roma also believe in the notion of "pollution", whereby the human body is vulnerable to pollution following the breaking of certain taboos—pollution leads to a person becoming out of balance, like the frog and the hen. If such taboos are broken, restoration of one's purity can only be attained through a trial overseen by a tribunal of Roma elders. This tribunal determines whether a person is guilty or innocent and, in the case of the former, the subject of the trial must complete a period of isolation for the purpose of eventual reinstatement (in particularly severe cases of pollution, permanent estrangement has occurred, but this is apparently rare in the modern era). Such pollution taboos do not apply until a Roma has undergone puberty.[80] Christianity and Islam have also been adopted by the Romanies.[81]

Genres: Nonfiction, True Crime, Biography, Crime, Sociology

209 pages, Paperback

First published October 13, 1975

About the author

Peter Maas was an American journalist and author. He was born in New York City and attended Duke University.

He was the biographer of Frank Serpico, a New York City Police officer who testified against police corruption. He is also the author of the number one New York Times bestseller, Underboss, about the life and times of Sammy "The Bull" Gravano.

His other notable bestsellers include The Valachi Papers, Manhunt, and In a Child's Name, recipient of the 1991 Edgar Award for Best Fact Crime book. The Valachi Papers, which told the story of Mafia turncoat Joseph Valachi, is widely considered to be a seminal work, as it spawned an entire genre of books written by or about former Mafiosi.

Librarian Note: There is more than one author in the GoodReads database with this name. See this thread for more information.

Reviews

[Michael Perkins · Rating 4 out of 5]

Years ago, I found this volume in a used bookstore when I took cover from a rain storm in the Garden District of New Orleans. I bought it for a friend who owned two pawn shops. I gave it to him and he said it was very helpful.

[Susan Nadathur · Rating 4 out of 5]

I will preface this review by saying that I realize Peter Maas’s book was written in 1978, and I am writing this review in 2012. But words—once they are written—will always bear weight. And stereotypes, unfortunately, will continue to exist unless they are challenged. While King of the Gypsies is well-researched (the author used actual news files to document his sources), it continues to promote the same familiar stereotypes of Gypsies. Again we see Gypsies portrayed as stealing, conniving, mafia-like people engaged in organized crime, fortune telling, and deadly tribal vendettas. While I do not doubt that this portrayal is supported in police records, I do wish the narrative had been better balanced. Not all Gypsies are thieves. Just like not all Italians belong to the Mafia. Nor all Muslims are extremists. I know intrigue is what sells books, but a little inclusion of alternative points of view/realities can make for even more interesting reading.

[Sarah · Rating 3 out of 5]

I acquired this read in Vermont. A used bookstore I was visiting had an assortment of books wrapped in newspaper. The sign over the books read "A date with history: $1". What a great way to get books that don't sell off the shelf and expose readers to material they otherwise might not have chosen for themselves.

An interesting and easy read. This book must be taken with a huge grain of salt. The world Steve Tene grew up in seems too outlandish to be true. Copyrighted in 1974 (and later adapted to film), the material and massage used here is clearly dated. Also, in his Author's note and throughout the book, Peter details the slight of hand and outright lies he's witnessed from the people who were the source material for the content, so you can't assume everything relayed to the reader is accurate or even without bias.

[Ken Loft · Rating 3 out of 5]

Made me more racist but it was too short; three-bagger

[David Ward · Rating 3 out of 5]

King of the Gypsies by Peter Maas (Viking Press 1975) (Biography). Author Peter Maas made a career out of writing in the "True Crime" genre including mafia exposes. King of the Gypsies is cut from the same cloth; it describes the interworkings of the gypsy world and its customs and community. The ways of this group of nomads is often foreign to the Western World, and their traditions of petty crime and graft are often repellent to the casual observer. As it turns out, there actually is a self-proclaimed "King of the Gypsies,' and he is featured heavily in this volume. The reality is that Peter Maas wrote this book in 1974, and he relied heavily on police records for source material. One can only hope that some of the customs have changed as time has moved forward. My rating: 7/10, finished 2000.

[Sally · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is by the author of "Serpico", Peter Maas. I reads like fact. He says it is true but that the nature of gypsies is to change, location, names, stories to fit whatever scheme they are working at the time, and he gives plenty of examples. The original King of the Gypsies was cruel and ruthless, thoughtful and protective. His own group loved him because he took care of them , but other family groups did not necessarily want to be under his protection. Mass says that there are 60 -odd groups of gypsies roaming the USA, unseen and unnoticed by the ordinary citizens. He writes a creditable book.

[Steve · Rating 3 out of 5]

gypsy criminals in america

[Mina Richards · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very and detailed account of gypsies. Disturbing at times...almost like an Italian mob family.

[Grump · Rating 2 out of 5]

Nah. There's just no story. Some guy gets his granddad's medallion that says he's supposed to be King of the Gypsies and he's wishy washy about it. Then there's 50 pages about old gypsy ladies scamming idiots. Then another 50 about the granddad fighting with people and being a general asshole. We end with the first guy fighting with his dad forever and a big shrug. The book does a great job making an entire ethnic group out to be pieces of shit, liars and criminals.

[Patricia Gomes · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good lord -- I want more! Steve Tene Bimbo, I assume, is no longer living, but I would love to read more about this family!

[Davy Bennett · Rating 4 out of 5]

I bought surplus control valves in Houston from many different Gypsies. They all sounded like they were from NYC. They seemed often to be named after things you come by in everyday life, like George [dollar bill], Miller [champagne of beers], etc. To be fair, there were Costello's etc also.

They provided a needed service. They would get the valves from metal scrap yards (often Jewish owned) and also from Chemical Plants and Refineries. Back in the 80s and 90s, they would sell us carbon steel valves for $50 per inch, and stainless steel price was $75 per inch.

We would then remanufacture and guarantee those valves and sell them to the Plants for a little cheaper than a new valve would cost. Everybody benefitted, and only one time did we get broken into and valves stolen. These guys were basically honest businessmen in big new heavy duty stake-bed trucks. It wasn't just Gypsies that did this, we also dealt with those of native stock (black and white). Don't mean to sound crass, just trying to paint a picture.

I did see a Gypsy lady once with a bunch of kids scamming a cashier at Walgreens (distraction and petty theft of candy). The cashier thought they were Mexican, I let her think it. Romany is different from Spanish, but a young Anglo kid might not be able to tell.

The Gypsies spared no coin on big nice cakes I remember, we knew some Cake Shop Owners.

They did do some Palm Reading too, we visited one big nice house while doing a bigger deal, that had a big black hand on it.

I would like to find this book on the $1 rack.

Oddly, Maas is the author of In A Childs Name that I am very familiar with. I played junior high basketball with the killers brother, who was a hoosier (that's what we do..ball). Valerie Bertinelli played the Staten Island sister of his slain wife in the TV movie. That one hit close to home, tho the brother was much older than us and I didn’t know him. He was an immoral Dentist in Staten Island. The little brother was the best basketball player I ever played with, was unconscious from range. I heard the older brother played centerfield for IU. Apparently for real, he didn't have much conscience.

Also Maas wrote The Valachi Papers, and Valachi is mentioned a lot in a book I am reading called Act of Treason (J Edgar Hoover) by Mark North. North wants to lay the JFK disaster on the Mafia, more than I think is warranted.

Maas got around.

[Alina · Rating 1 out of 5]

I picked this book up by happenstance seeing as I am personally invested in the culture of Romany and I enjoyed it- as a work of fiction with a tidbit of truth. As told by my boyfriend, who is a member of the Bimbo Tene tribe, this is a complete work of fiction that was used to perpetuate the "Gypsy" stereotype. Although not all of which is written here is a work of fiction, i.e. court documents, newspapers and police reports... most accounts written in this novel are false unchecked claims.
Lets be real, no Romany and I repeat NONE would ever tell the Gadjé (that they were not dating or married to (it happens, but rarely)) about Romany dealings truthfully, even if they were looking to get out of the life. I will say that even though there are still a large number of Romany whom are still illiterate, there is a growing number of Romany who can both read and write and who have attended and graduated from high school and beyond (my boyfriend included). An interesting work of fiction, but when it comes to a "True Crime" novel, it falls way short. That's all I will say about that.

[Audrey · Rating 2 out of 5]

It's sure interesting. A perfect fulfillment of the 'true crime' genre, with that stew of sex and violence and seedy dealings we've come to expect from ethnocentric, androcentric 1970s-era stories. Not that there are not true accounts buried in here, but the facts are so warped through the thick lens of an outsider from the dominant culture peering in on a misunderstood people, peering with the pure purpose of exploiting and cultivating those misunderstandings, that the author's perspective is the far more interesting part of the book than the 'true' crimes it attempts to portray.

[Michelle Dancer · Rating 5 out of 5]

A true story written in a novelist way. A look into the life of Gypsies in America. Written in 1974 so I'm sure things have changed in gypsy culture. Looking for a modern look into gypsies in America.

[Yvonne Messerschmidt · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was interesting
I hope they start educating their children

[B. Maggie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Surprisingly entertaining! It didn't read like what I was expecting, but once I got about 10 pages in, I was hooked. I'd be interesting in reading more books about the Bimbos!

[Isabella Byrd · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved reading this. The stories in this book were very compelling and I now have a begrudging respect for gypsy schemes.