Romani Goose Girl, Bohemia

Romani Goose Girl,
Bohemia

Bohémien was a common term for the Romani people of France, who had reached Western Europe via Bohemia. The common use of the word “bohemian” first appeared in the English language in the 19th century to describe the non-traditional lifestyles of marginalized and impoverished artists, writers, journalists, musicians and actors in major European cities.

Falada, a character from the Brothers Grimm tale The Goose Girl, has forever haunted me; a talking, decapitated horse head nailed to a dark gateway on the way out of town.