A Field Full of Butterflies

Rosemary Penfold was born in 1938 in a traditional Gypsy wagon and grew up in the fields of the English countryside. In this beautiful and evocative memoir, she recounts her life within a loving extended family and small but close-knit community.

From early memories of her father bringing home oranges during the war, to the simple beauty of a field full of butterflies on a hot summer's day, Rosemary's stunningly elegant narrative captures the love and losses, hopes and struggles, traditions and prejudices that bound her to her family and helped her adapt to a fast-changing world.

Rosemary's story is a moving testament to a forgotten world and a rapidly disappearing way of life.

“'There are no dramatic climaxes in this beautifully written memoir, just a gentle journey through Penfolds childhood that I looked forward to picking up each night ... the most enjoyable thing about this read is that its a classic coming-of-age story'”

'An enchanting story of a lost world, related with charm and good humour.' -- Alan Titchmarsh
Penfold's warm-hearted story of growing up in a gypsy wagon is rich with the small daily details - shelling peas, soda-soaking tea towels and lighting the tilley lamp - that made up this tight-knit community. SAINSBURYS MAGAZINE
There are no dramatic climaxes in this beautifully written memoir, just a gentle journey through Penfold's childhood that I looked forward to picking up each night ... the most enjoyable thing about this read is that it's a classic coming-of-age story COSMOPOLITAN.CO.UK

Rosemary Penfold lives with her husband of 54 years not far from where she grew up, in the heart of Somerset. She has 4 children, 11 grandchildren and 2 great-grandchildren. She is still close to her extended Romany family who meet regularly for family gatherings. Although 'settled', her Romany roots mean she is still a gypsy at heart.

Rosemary Penfold was born in 1938 in a traditional Gypsy wagon and grew up in the fields of the English countryside. In this beautiful and evocative memoir, she recounts her life within a loving extended family and small but close-knit community.From early memories of her father bringing home oranges during the war, to the simple beauty of a field full of butterflies on a hot summer's day, Rosemary's stunningly elegant narrative captures the love and losses, hopes and struggles, traditions and prejudices that bound her to her family and helped her adapt to a fast-changing world.Rosemary's story is a moving testament to a forgotten world and a rapidly disappearing way of life.

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