“The most distinctly English book—at least in a certain absence of cosmopolitanism—that Victorian literature produced was to a great extent written on scraps of paper during a prolonged Continental tour which included Constantinople and Budapest. In Lavengro we have only half a book, the whole work, which included what came to be published as The Romany Rye, having been intended to appear in four volumes. The first volume was written in 1843, the second in 1845, and the third volume in the years between 1845 and 1848. Then in 1852 Borrow wrote out an advertisement of a fourth volume, which runs as follows:
Shortly will be published in one volume. Price 10s. The Rommany Rye, Being the fourth volume of Lavengro. By George Borrow, author of The Bible in Spain.
But this volume did not make an appearance ‘shortly.’ Its author was far too much offended with the critics, too disheartened it may be, to care to offer himself again for their gibes. The years rolled on, and not until 1857 did The Romany Rye appear. The book was now in two volumes, and we see that the word Romany had dropped an m. . . .
The incidents of Lavengro are supposed to have taken place between the 24th of May 1825, and the 18th of July of that year. In The Romany Rye the incidents apparently occur between the 19th of July and the 3rd of August 1825. In the opinion of Mr. John Sampson, the whole of the episodes in the five volumes occurred in seventy-two days.”—[George Borrow and his Circle, 1913, pp. 341–343.]
A useful edition of The Romany Rye is:
The Romany Rye / A Sequel to “Lavengro” / By George Borrow / A New Edition / Containing the unaltered text of the Original / Issue, with Notes, etc., by the Author of / “The Life of George Borrow” / London / John Murray, Albemarle Street / 1900.—Crown 8vo. pp. xvi + 403.
The book was edited by Dr. William Knapp.
There is a copy of the First Edition of The Romany Rye in the Library of the British Museum. The Press-mark is 12622. f. 8.
(13) [The Sleeping Bard: 1860]
The Sleeping Bard; / Or / Visions of the World, Death, and Hell, / By / Elis Wyn. / Translated from the Cambrian British / By / George Borrow, / Author of/ “The Bible in Spain,” “The Gypsies of Spain,” etc. / London: / John Murray, Albemarle Street. / 1860.
Collation:—Crown octavo, pp. x + 128; consisting of: Title-page, as above (with blank reverse) pp. i–ii; Preface pp. iii–vii; p. viii is blank; Fly-title to A Vision of the Course of the World (with blank reverse) pp. ix-x; and Text of the three Visions pp.
1–128. There are head-lines throughout, each double-page being headed with the title of the particular Vision occupying it. A Vision of Hell is preceded by a separate Fly-title (pp. 67–68) with blank reverse. At the foot of p. 128 is the following imprint, “James M. Denew, Printer, 72, Hall Plain, Great Yarmouth.” The sheets carry no register. The book was issued without any Half-title. In some copies the Christian name of the printer is misprinted Jamms.
Issued (in June, 1860) in magenta coloured cloth boards, lettered in gold along the back, “The Sleeping Bard,” and “London / John Murray” across the foot. The published price was 5s.; 250 copies were printed. Murray’s connection with the work was nominal. The book was actually issued at Yarmouth by J. M. Denew, the printer by whom it was produced. The cost was borne by the author himself, to whom the majority of the copies were ultimately delivered.