Jack and his wife Gevoner tell of their travels, as do many other gypsies: Eli Frankham, boxer, gypsy spokesman and musician; Fred Stephenson, breeder of lurchers; and the Coulsons of County Durham, scrap and coal merchants. Most of the story-tellers are old enough to have seen the last of the traditional travelling life of their kind, and their tales carry through them the threads of typical gypsy culture, including respect for tradition and elders, love of children, superstition and passion for horse fairs and fist fights.