The Gypsy Feeling

This story was written by Anais Nin the last half of 1929 or first half of 1930 and was published in 1977. It is about two women: Mariette, who seems to represent Anais Nin, and Lolita, a wild, free "gypsy" woman.

Mariette is a quiet woman on the outside, with more going on inside her, but she is too timid to reveal herself. She has no fire, but she is nice. She writes newspaper articles about dancing.

Lolita, on the other hand, has "a fierce smile," "a dark gold skin," "polished breasts," "shining hair," "rich curves," "is warm and moist," with a "healthy animal odor." She is married and has seven children and is dancer in Paris. An admirer describes her dancing as "so passionate, so full of gypsy emotion."

As Mariette is typing up her article, she realizes that she feels like dancing and suddenly gets a gypsy feeling: "no more walls, no more boundaries, no thought." She could do anything and everything she wanted to, whenever she wanted. She could be free, on the open road, full of gypsy feeling.

The admirer from the dance shows up at her hotel. He sees that Mariette now has what Lolita has: "You've got it, you've got it, the gypsy feeling!" he says and invites her to dinner.