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Gypsy Boy is Walsh's fascinating memoir about being part of the Gypsy world of trailers and pulling scams with his family, all the while having to hide being gay. Growing up in the shadow of a renowned gypsy prize-fighter, he is subjected to daily beatings in order to toughen him up to follow in his father's footsteps. Worse still, he is expected to fight any other boy who challenges him, even though he is only a child. Alienated by his inability to live up to his father's expectations and the secret knowledge that he is gay, he finds himself trapped in a cycle of violence and oppression. However the bleakness is leavened by the colourful descriptions of his family, and some myths are dispelled, such as about the famous curses and terrible poverty. Walsh paints a brilliant and vivid portrait of a fiercely close-knit community, in what is an engrossing account of a difficult childhood. Also check out the stunning sequel, Gypsy Boy on the Run.
Paperback, 278 Pages, Orig. Publ. 2009, This Ed. Publ. 2010
Author: Mikey Walsh