Gypsy Witchcraft and Magic

Gypsies have long held a place in romantic fantasy. Even the name they commonly use to refer to themselves, the Romany, sounds like romance. However, romantic images of Gypsy life have fallen prey to harsh depictions of Gypsies as criminals living in the poorest of conditions. Buckland dispels some of the contemporary misinformation and revitalizes the romance of the past that, despite societal pressures and constraints, still can be found in Romany culture today. Buckland's collection of photographs of early-20th-century Gypsies--their ornately carved vardos (the colorful wagons that served as both home and transportation) and their close-knit family lives--elicit a sigh of longing for the freedom of life on the road. Gypsy Witchcraft & Magic certainly lives up to its title, revealing spells, talismans and methods of divination that have become an inherent part of Gypsy culture, but Buckland's real achievement is his preservation of part of a culture that is slowly dissolving in the social mainstream. --Brian Patterson END