Damien Le Bas: The Stopping Places

Hunting Raven Books is proud to welcome Damien Le Bas to celebrate the paperback launch of his critically acclaimed book, The Stopping Places.

Damien Le Bas grew up surrounded by Gypsy history. His great-grandmother would tell him stories of her childhood in the ancient Romani language. The places her family stopped and worked, the ways they lived, the superstitions, as well as lores of their people. But his own experience of life on the road was limited to Ford Transit journeys from West Sussex to Hampshire to sell flowers.

In a bid to better understand his Gypsy heritage, the history of the Britain’s Romanies and the rhythms of their life today, Damian sets out on a journey to discover the atchin tans, or stopping places – the old encampment sites known only to Travellers. Through winter frosts and summer dawns, from horse fairs to Gypsy churches, neon-lit lay-bys to fern-covered banks. Damian lives on the road, somewhere between the romanticised Gypsies of old, and their much-maligned descendants of today.

Following the talk there will be a Q&A and Damien will be happy to sign copes of the book which will be available to purchase on the night.