George Henry Borrow was a 19th century writer who wrote novels and travelogues based on his travels around Europe. Through his travels Borrow developed a close relationship with the Romani people, which play a prominent role in his books The Bible in Spain and Lavengro. The Romany Rye is at least partly autobiographical. It is in a way a sequel to Lavengro. The story itself follows the journey of a learned young man thrown in with Gypsies. It is a philosophical adventure story.