Book description
A true blooded Gypsy, Violet Cannon grew up the Romany way. Life was
tough at times, living in a cramped one-roomed trailer, but, unbound by
strict routines, Violet spent her days learning to keep home, playing
and roaming the fields with a sense of freedom long lost to the rest of
modern society. Immersed in the Gypsy way of life, her childhood set her
apart from other children. Bullied by classmates, and segregated from
'gorgia' kids (all non-Gypsies), Violet eventually left school at the
age of nine to live a life of travel, play and learning under
generations-old Gypsy rules on the fringes of society. With traditional
values at the heart of her childhood, the pressure of conforming and
marrying young was intense. Violet was duty-bound to find a husband, but
would her marriage lead to the 'happy ever after' she grew up believing
in as a Gypsy girl? Gypsy Princess is a searingly honest account of what
life is really like for travelling communities, for girls in particular,
and captures a way of life that is slowly fading away. Violet Margaret
Princess Cannon was born and bred in Bradford, West Yorkshire, and
raised in the traditional Romany way. At thirty-one, and in contrast to
the media's portrayal of Gypsies and their culture, Violet has an
education, a job and a divorce to her name. She has spent the last eight
years working with Gypsies and Travellers, fighting to gain the
community recognition as an ethnic minority in its own right. Violet is
the founding member of the Northern Network of Travelling People and the
Chairperson of the Romany Woman's Union, and has appeared in Closer
magazine and on This Morning, and is about to judge the national Miss
Gypsy UK competition.
