Lavengro · Chapter
The Editor’s Postscript explained
The editor provides a scholarly postscript explaining the origins of the terms 'Lavengro' and 'Romany Rye,' the autobiographical nature of the two works, the composition history of 'Lavengro' (written 1842-1851 at Oulton, Suffolk), the stat
What happens
The editor provides a scholarly postscript explaining the origins of the terms 'Lavengro' and 'Romany Rye,' the autobiographical nature of the two works, the composition history of 'Lavengro' (written 1842-1851 at Oulton, Suffolk), the state of the manuscripts, and the editorial principles applied to the present edition, including the restoration of previously omitted episodes and the use of contemporaneous records for the notes.
Themes in this chapter
Philology and Learning
The postscript explains the meaning of 'Lavengro' as 'Philologist,' directly tying the chapter to the theme of language study and scholarly pursuit.
The Gypsy and the Outsider
The term 'Romany Rye' (Gypsy Gentleman) and the role of Jasper Petulengro in naming Borrow highlight the Gypsy influence and outsider perspective central to the work.
Characters to notice
- George Borrow
The subject of the autobiography; the terms Lavengro and Romany Rye were applied to him by Jasper Petulengro.
- Jasper Petulengro
The Norfolk Gypsy (Ambrose Smith) who coined the names Lavengro and Romany Rye for George Borrow.
Key passages
“Lavengro and The Romany Rye (properly Romanó Ráï ) were terms applied to George Borrow in his youth by the Norfolk Gypsy, Ambrose Smith, better known in these volumes as Jasper Petulengro.”
The titles Lavengro and Romany Rye were nicknames given to George Borrow when he was young by the Norfolk Gypsy Ambrose Smith, who appears in the books as Jasper Petulengro.
Explains the origin of the book titles from Borrow's personal history.
“The two works thus entitled constitute a more or less exact autobiography of the writer of them, from the date of his birth to the end of August, 1825.”
These two books together form a fairly accurate autobiography of the author, covering his life from birth until late August 1825.
Clarifies the autobiographical nature of the works.
“Lavengro was written at Oulton, in Suffolk, slowly and at intervals, between the years 1842 and 1851.”
Borrow wrote Lavengro gradually and sporadically at his home in Oulton, Suffolk, from 1842 to 1851.
Provides the time and place of the book's composition.