Souvenir of the George Borrow Celebration: Norwich, July 5th, 1913

In Short

This souvenir volume, compiled by James Hooper for the 1913 George Borrow Celebration in Norwich, offers a biographical overview of the famous traveler, linguist, and author. The text follows Borrow from his melancholy childhood and wandering youth through his legal studies, literary struggles in London, and roaming adventures among gypsies and odd characters. Illustrated with photographs, sketches, and local landmarks, it traces his path to literary fame and solitary final days. It survives as a compact, affectionate portrait of a uniquely eccentric Victorian writer whose love for the open road continues to inspire readers and wayfarers.

The Story

The narrative opens with the early childhood of George Borrow, a boy born to an itinerant army captain and his wife. From his earliest years, Borrow exhibits a gloomy disposition and suffers from mysterious, terrifying nervous attacks he calls "the Fear" or "the Horrors." His family moves frequently across England and Ireland with his father's regiment. Wherever they stop, Borrow picks up languages with incredible speed, learning Latin, Greek, and Irish, while entertaining his schoolmates with imaginative, violent stories. A pivotal moment occurs during his youth when he tames a viper, encounters a band of gypsies, and meets Jasper Petulengro, forming a lifelong brotherhood with the Romany people.

In 1816, the family settles in Norwich, where Borrow attends the local Grammar School under the stern master Edward Valpy. Uninterested in standard routines, Borrow hunts birds with an old musket, wanders the countryside, and studies French, Italian, German, and Danish under unconventional tutors like the exiled priest D'Eterville and the freethinker William Taylor. Apprenticed to a Norwich law firm in 1819, he spends his working hours copying documents while privately devouring foreign literature and Scandinavian ballads.

After his father's death, Borrow heads to London in 1824 to pursue a literary career. He endures grueling, spirit-crushing work editing six volumes of criminal trials for a harsh publisher. Facing poverty and mental exhaustion, he writes a fictional travel story, sells it for twenty pounds, and flees the city on foot in May 1825. His country rambles turn into an extraordinary saga: he trades with horse-dealers, engages in a famous fistfight with the formidable "Flaming Tinman" in Mumper's Dingle, and forms a deep, poetic friendship with the tall, regal Isopel Berners before parting ways with her forever.

In his later years, Borrow secures work with the Bible Society, traveling through Russia and Spain, which establishes his fame as an author. He eventually marries, settles at Oulton, and later lives in London, though he remains an isolated and defensive figure who often clashes with critics and former associates. Following his wife's death in 1869, his spirits decline. He publishes a final book on the Romany language, returns to his remote home in Oulton, and dies suddenly and alone in July 1881. The account concludes by showing how his legacy transformed from late-life obscurity into lasting honor in his adopted home city of Norwich.

How It Unfolds

A strange and wandering childhood Born to a soldier father, young George wanders the country, suffers from unexplained attacks of nervous terror, tames a wild snake, and makes a pact of brotherhood with the gypsy Jasper Petulengro.

Schooling and local wanderings Settling in Norwich, Borrow attends the Grammar School, learns languages from an exiled French priest, wanders the Norfolk rivers, and picks up boxing from notorious local pugilists.

Law desks and ancient ballads Articled to a Norwich solicitor, Borrow neglects legal documents to teach himself Danish from an old Bible and German from the radical scholar William Taylor.

Drudgery and flight in London Moving to London after his father dies, he earns a meager living compiling thousands of pages of criminal trials until, near collapse, he sells a short tale and takes to the open road.

Adventures in Mumper's Dingle Walking through the countryside, Borrow brawls with the Flaming Tinman, camps in a isolated dingle, and shares a poignant, fleeting companionship with the magnificent Isopel Berners.

Fame, decline, and quiet exit After years of foreign travel and literary success, Borrow retires to Norfolk and London, grows increasingly solitary after his wife dies, and passes away alone in his cottage.

The People

• George Borrow: The central subject; a tall, proud, highly eccentric linguist and wanderer driven by a desire for travel and foreign tongues, yet plagued throughout his life by severe bouts of depression.
• Jasper Petulengro (Ambrose Smith): A Romany leader who meets Borrow in youth, becomes his lifelong friend, and embodies the free-spirited wisdom of the open road.
• Isopel Berners: A tall, fiercely independent woman who lives in a traveling van, helps Borrow after his fight in Mumper's Dingle, and leaves a lasting impression on him before disappearing from his life.
• William Taylor: A famous Norwich scholar, German translator, and freethinker who mentors young Borrow, introduces him to local intellectuals, and encourages his linguistic talents.
• Edward Valpy: The stern headmaster of Norwich Grammar School, remembered by contemporaries for his strict discipline and his frequent use of the rod.

In Its Own Voice

"The child is a sweet child, and he has all the look of one of our own people."

A itinerant pedlar inspects the mysterious lines drawn in the dust by young George Borrow.

"There's the wind on the heath, brother; if I could only feel that, I would gladly live for ever."

Jasper Petulengro explains to Borrow why life, despite its hardships, remains deeply worth living.

"I turned away, and never saw Isopel Berners again."

Borrow reflects on his final glimpse of Isopel Berners as she stands at the entrance of Mumper's Dingle.

What It's Really About

The text explores the tension between conventional society and the irresistible call of an untamed life. Borrow's life illustrates a constant struggle against internal melancholy, where physical movement, foreign tongues, and contact with marginalized peoples serve as remedies for a restless mind. The book examines how a solitary youth, marked by eccentric habits and mental torment, transforms those traits into a singular literary style. Through its focus on Norfolk landscapes, gypsy encampments, and roadside inns, the narrative argues that true freedom and beauty are found away from polite urban circles, out on the open heath under the open sky.

Why Read It Today

This volume serves as a charming gateway for anyone interested in nineteenth-century English literature, local history, or the lore of the open road. Hooper's writing combines affectionate local pride with direct quotes and crisp anecdotes, providing a vivid glimpse into the life of one of Victorian England's most unclassifiable figures. Readers will enjoy the colorful descriptions of rustic Norwich, bare-knuckle pugilists, and roadside encounters.

The book does present a few period difficulties. It assumes some familiarity with Borrow's semi-autobiographical novels, Lavengro and The Romany Rye, and occasionally references obscure local figures, dialect terms, or outdated 19th-century attitudes toward ethnic groups and religion. However, these historic quirks only add to its authentic period charm. Readers who appreciate historical biography, nature writing, and the romance of travel will find this a quick, deeply atmospheric read that leaves a lasting impression of the Norfolk countryside and the fierce, independent spirit of George Borrow.