Jan Yoors (1922–1977)
Author of The Gypsies
About the Author
Works by Jan Yoors
Only one New York 6 copies
Associated Works
The gypsy fiddle,: And other tales told by the Gypsies (1969) — Introduction, some editions — 7 copies
Tagged
Common Knowledge
- Birthdate
- 1922-04-12
- Date of death
- 1977-11-27
- Gender
- male
- Education
- École nationale supérieure d'architecture et des arts décoratifs, Brussels
School of Oriental and African Studies, University of London - Occupations
- photographer
sculptor
painter
tapestry artist
filmmaker
resistance member (show all 7)
memoirist - Short biography
- Jan Yoors was born in Antwerp, Belgium to Eugene Yoors, a prominent stained glass artist, and his wife Magda Peeters, a human rights activist, both of them Catholic pacifists. He grew up in a cultured, liberal home. At age 12, with his parents' consent, he went to stay with a roaming Rom (Gypsy) tribe and lived with them on and off over the next 10 years. During the Nazi Occupation of his country in World War II, he became a liaison agent between resistance and Allied intelligence units and Romani behind German lines. In 1943, he was arrested twice by the Gestapo, condemned to death, and imprisoned, but escaped.
Before the war, he had studied sculpture at the Royal Academy of Fine Arts in Antwerp and at the École nationale supérieure d'architecture et des arts décoratifs (known as La Cambre) in Brussels. When the war ended, he married Annebert van Wettum and went to London to attend the School of Oriental and African Studies at the University of London. He was introduced to the art of tapestry and set up a tapestry studio with Annebert and their friend Marianne Citroen. In 1951, they moved to New York City and set up the Jan Yoors Studio. His tapestries, paintings, and photographs are included in collections of museums, corporations, religious institutions, and public and private collectors worldwide. He also wrote two books of memoirs, The Gypsies (1967) and Crossing: A Journal of Survival and Resistance in World War II (1971). - Nationality
- Belgium
- Birthplace
- Antwerp, Belgium
- Places of residence
- London, England, UK
New York, New York, USA - Place of death
- New York, New York, USA
Members
Reviews
A beautiful version of Yoors' "Gypsies," an account of his life with the Rom. He left home, on a whim, really, at age 12 with a Romany caravan and lived with them off and on until the advent of the Nazis. He spent large parts of the rest of his life finding and documenting Romany life all over Europe and into India and in America.
and he was a wonderful observer. What I hadn't known is that he also took photographs--this version takes key excerpts from "Gypsies" and pairs them with Yoors' show more photos. Many of the people in the photos did not survive the death camps. Somehow, in the way of Barthes' illuminations on the relation of death and photography's meanings, this lends them a terrible power.
It's a tender and beautiful book, and the small press that produced it has done a lovely job. show less
and he was a wonderful observer. What I hadn't known is that he also took photographs--this version takes key excerpts from "Gypsies" and pairs them with Yoors' show more photos. Many of the people in the photos did not survive the death camps. Somehow, in the way of Barthes' illuminations on the relation of death and photography's meanings, this lends them a terrible power.
It's a tender and beautiful book, and the small press that produced it has done a lovely job. show less
The blurb on the back cover of this book says, "He (Yoors) is the first person to write about Gypsies as an insider..." I beg to disagree. Many years ago I discovered the books of George Borrow, a 19th century self-taught linguist, who lived among the gypsies and wrote at least two books about them. The books were {{Lavengro}} and {{Romany Rye}}. The Borrow books are much more informative and better written than Yoor's book. Writing came as a natural gift to Borrow, and his love of the show more gypsies comes through easily in his writing. I get the feeling that Yoors is not a "naturally gifted" writer, and although he means well, the writing comes across as almost clinical. The gypsies are a most interesting people and deserve to be written about. You won't find the George Borrow books in bookstores, so I give Mr. Yoors 3 stars for bringing light to an important group of people. "Misto kedast tute, pal," as a Romany Rom (gypsy) might say. show less
Update 7/31-09 I quit. I started reading other books. Maybe I'll finish this some day.. But for now, it's just not motivating me ..
UPDATE 6/11/09
I'm re-reading this now and it is a s-l-o-w read. I guess it seems a bit too intentionally instructive, if you know what I mean.. Like the author is wanting the reader to agree with him about the Gypsies: ('Aren't they cool, Wasn't it cool of me to run away with them? Don't they impress you with their cunning ways/lying and trickery? Aren't I cool show more for being so open minded?") Uh, no, Mr Yoors, that stuff doesn't impress me. I guess back when I was 18 I thought it was cool;the whole idea of running with a band of Gypsies seemed like such an adventure. Intentional deception, trickery, and the wandering nomad life are not ways I approve of nor do I find them inspiring. I am learning a bit about the habits and customs of these groups.. but I am finding this book reads more like an anthropology study.
I've had this book for over 30 years ( an earlier printing of course). My sister read it in College, and I read it a long time ago, I think when I was 18 years old.. I loved it then but wonder how I'll feel about it now.. so I'm rereading it to find out. Sometimes it is can be interesting to reread books you liked years ago, and find you have a very different reaction to them now.
Gypsies is a true story of a boy who ran way from home, (with his parents permission!) when he was only 12 years old- to live with a band of Gypsies. He lived with them for I think 10 years. Then he wrote this book about his experiences.
I think later Jan Yoors became an avante garde artist of sorts, making tapestries with his two wives (!) Yoors died young and his wives continue his tapestry art. show less
UPDATE 6/11/09
I'm re-reading this now and it is a s-l-o-w read. I guess it seems a bit too intentionally instructive, if you know what I mean.. Like the author is wanting the reader to agree with him about the Gypsies: ('Aren't they cool, Wasn't it cool of me to run away with them? Don't they impress you with their cunning ways/lying and trickery? Aren't I cool show more for being so open minded?") Uh, no, Mr Yoors, that stuff doesn't impress me. I guess back when I was 18 I thought it was cool;the whole idea of running with a band of Gypsies seemed like such an adventure. Intentional deception, trickery, and the wandering nomad life are not ways I approve of nor do I find them inspiring. I am learning a bit about the habits and customs of these groups.. but I am finding this book reads more like an anthropology study.
I've had this book for over 30 years ( an earlier printing of course). My sister read it in College, and I read it a long time ago, I think when I was 18 years old.. I loved it then but wonder how I'll feel about it now.. so I'm rereading it to find out. Sometimes it is can be interesting to reread books you liked years ago, and find you have a very different reaction to them now.
Gypsies is a true story of a boy who ran way from home, (with his parents permission!) when he was only 12 years old- to live with a band of Gypsies. He lived with them for I think 10 years. Then he wrote this book about his experiences.
I think later Jan Yoors became an avante garde artist of sorts, making tapestries with his two wives (!) Yoors died young and his wives continue his tapestry art. show less
Reading because of the mess in France. Ok, finished. It feels authentic, but I'm not sure of the credibility of the author. And of course it's about 70 years ago. It was easy enough to read if I suspended disbelief and didn't question - I never knew exactly what was going on; it wasn't coherent.... But there were enough tidbits to make it interesting and I do feel that some of what I learned was real enough to be of value.
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Statistics
- Works
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- Rating
- 4.1
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