Author Description

Roma, Sinti, Calé--whatever they'd prefer to be called, the scattered members of the largest minority in Europe are most widey known as Gypsies. Throughout their history, the Roma have been subjected to persecution, expulsion, slavery, prohibitions on the use of the Romany language and other creative attempts to assimilate, misuse or extinguish their peoples. Throughout Europe, attitudes towards them remain at least suspicious, and many still face direct discrimination. Cia Rinne and Joakim Eskildsen have visited Roma in seven different countries between 2000 and 2006, often staying with families in order to photograph and write about their lives, their culture and their situation. In The Roma Journeys they document these encounters with Eskildsen's moody color images and Rinne's sympthetic essays, and offer a rare view into a little-known life. With a foreword from Günter Grass and an enclosed CD with field recordings and music recorded on the authors' journeys.