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The Stopping Places

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The Stopping Places

By: Damian Le Bas
Narrated by: Damian Le Bas
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About this listen

Random House presents the audiobook edition of The Stopping Places, written and read by Damian Le Bas.

*BBC Radio 4 Book of the Week*


'I needed to get to the stopping places, so I needed to get on the road. It was the road where I might at last find out where I belonged.'

Damian Le Bas grew up surrounded by Gypsy history. His great-grandmother would tell him stories of her childhood in the ancient Romani language; the places her family stopped and worked, the ways they lived, the superstitions and lores of their people. But his own experience of life on the road was limited to Ford Transit journeys from West Sussex to Hampshire to sell flowers.

In a bid to better understand his Gypsy heritage, the history of the Britain's Romanies and the rhythms of their life today, Damian sets out on a journey to discover the atchin tans, or stopping places – the old encampment sites known only to Travellers. Through winter frosts and summer dawns, from horse fairs to Gypsy churches, neon-lit lay-bys to fern-covered banks, Damian lives on the road, somewhere between the romanticised Gypsies of old, and their much-maligned descendants of today.

In this powerful and soulful debut, Damian le Bas brings the places, characters and stories of his to bold and vigorous life.

2019, Thwaites Wainwright Prize, Long-listed

2019, Somerset Maugham Award, Short-listed

2019, Jhalak Prize, Long-listed

2019, Edward Stanford Travel Writing Awards, Short-listed

©2018 Damian Le Bas (P)2018 Random House Audiobooks
Cultural & Regional History Travel Writing & Commentary Inspiring Thought-Provoking
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Critic reviews

Tender and intensely lyrical ... the prose is pure delight. The author breathes life into everything he sees ... To read The Stopping Places is to better understand the curious history of the Roma and how they have survived into 21st-century Britain (Jackie Annesley)
A beautiful writer who seems born to tell this fascinating story. It's brilliantly researched, avoiding stereotype and explaining misconceptions, while showing what is vital and special about modern traveller culture (Amy Liptrot)
A fine prose style, vividly conjuring the smell of a hop pillow, the whinnying of a horse fair and the ‘wet-look hairstyles’ of the men, as well as the dead cold of a wagon in winter... An element of memoir clings to this excellent account of folk most of us don’t understand... The end of the book hints at redemption, as Le Bas comes to terms with the conflicts of his dual world. But he is too good a writer to make a meal of it (Sara Wheeler)
An insight into the hidden world and culture of travelling people, written with delicacy and affection (Ken Loach)
Beautifully written and deeply affecting… While this is a beautiful, important book about Gypsy culture, it’s also a moving exploration of what it means to belong (Clover Stroud)

What listeners say about The Stopping Places

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Fantastic

If the subject interests you, this book is fabulous. A wonder personal introspective and history / story of the Roymani in the UK

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A must listen

Fab narration and accurate content delivered through short story chapters. Delivered with genuine emotion

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A window another world view

Provides an absorbing window on a vital but neglected element in the tapestry of people in the British Isles.

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Evocative and honest

Evocative and honest telling of a man’s quest to find his place in a world which - on the whole - still struggles to allow his people their rightful claim to the earth. Loved hearing Damian speak his native tongue. His words will stay with me for a long time.

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1 person found this helpful

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    5 out of 5 stars

Enjoyable audio book

An enjoyable journey and beautifully narrated by the author. Gives an insight into the language and life.

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The title intrigued me..

Corker of a book! Interesting, well written and hard to put down. Thoroughly enjoyed it.

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Can well recommend

First heard some highlights on book of the week R4. The full edition is really enjoyable and unravels the secret ways of the true travelling community that are still practiced. Really good narration by the author. Enjoy :)

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    4 out of 5 stars

Insightful and personal

It didn't really go anywhere, a little bit tortured and sad. Interesting and I felt I learned more about traveller cultures from it.

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Interesting and engaging

The narration felt slow at first but was perfect for this book. Thoroughly enjoyed it.

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Most enjoyable audiobook ever

I loved Stopping Places. Damian gives such a seemingly honest account of his experiences, balancing the mix of his way of life, giving us an insight into the history and modern day traveller life. His writing is beautiful with the everyday observations of nature, his descriptions and impersonations of the characters he meets and the baring of his feelings. Just loved this, still have half a chapter left to read cos I don’t want to finish it!

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2 people found this helpful