Gypsies and Orientalism in German Literature and Anthropology of the Long Nineteenth Century

Saul (German, U. of Durham, UK) traces the symbolic representation of the Romany people (the Gypsies) in German literature and anthropology over the course of the 19th century. In addition to placing these representations and constructions within the context of the Romany genocide that was to follow under the Nazis, Saul considers them in light of Edward Said's work on Orientalism. He finds that much of the unearthed material confirms Said's observations concerning Orientalism as an intellectual weapon for exercising epistemological and political power over the Romany people, however argues that more nuanced and sympathetic representations of the Romany found in other German writings challenge the unidimensionality of Said's work. Distributed in North America by The David Brown Book Co. Annotation ©2008 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)