What is Cinnaminta? - Cinnaminta?
Who is Cinnaminta?
Cinnaminta is a beautiful, if under-used, girl's name and is that of a graceful gypsy woman who is a character in Richard Doddridge (R. D.) Blackmore's book, Cripps the Carrier - A Woodland Tale, published in 1876 by Sampson Low, Marston, & Company.
The tale is of the eventual triumph of good over evil in a slow moving but complex web of plots, integrity, corruption, honesty, jealousy and strong family loyalties set within the constraints of a seemingly unchanging cultural heritage. The writing evokes the harsh nature of rural existence and contrasting oppulence of the wealthy in late 19th century Oxfordshire, England. The story ranges across the Oxfordshire countryside, into the great City of Oxford and even into the eternal institutions of the University itself with detailed observation of the characters, their professions and motivations and even some fine, dry, English humour.
If you know and love R. D. Blackmore's writing and can provide a more concise, erudite or accurate summary of Cripps the Carrier then please submit it for consideration as a revision or replacement for the above via the 'suggestions' link at the bottom of this page.
Why Cinnaminta?
Blackmore's Cinnaminta is many things to many people; a beautiful mother; a cultural and spiritual icon; a mysterious traveller with deep, earthy wisdom; a messenger who has experienced the joys, hardships and sorrows of life. The other characters are each an inspiration, or warning, in turn.
The setting and events in the book have resonances with the lives and emotions of the core Cinnaminta development team and, like many lives, include some strange, private thoughts and events that are not easily explained. The Cinnaminta team thought the way that Cripps and the other well meaning characters supported each other echoed the essence of 'the idea' that became Cinnaminta and that this, as yet, unusual service required an, as yet, unusual name. Thus, "Cinnaminta" it is.
The description of Cinnaminta and original copies of R. D. Blackmore's book helped inspire the design for the Cinnaminta web site.
...in the furthest corner lay little Tom, with a woman bending over him. At the sound of our entry she turned to meet us, and I saw Cinnaminta. Her hair, and eyes, and graceful carriage were as grand as ever, and her forehead as clear and noble; but her face had lost the bright puzzle of youth, and the flush of damask beauty. In a word, that rich mysterious look, which used to thrill so many hearts, was changed into the glance of fear, and the restless gaze of anxiety.
She knew me at once, and asked, with a very poor attempt at gaiety - 'Are you come to have your fortune told, sir?'
Before I could answer, her husband spoke some words in her own language, and the 'Princess', as we used to call her, took my hand in both of hers, and kissed it, and poured forth her thanks. She had been so engrossed with her poor sick child that she had not known me on horseback. Having done so little to deserve thanks, I was quite surprised at such gratitude; and it made me fear that she must now be unaccustomed to kind treatment. I asked how her grandmother was, who used to sit up so proudly at Cowley, as well as her sister, the little thing that used to run in and out so. As I spoke of them, she shook her head and gazed at some long distance, to tell me that they were no more. I could not remember the rest of her people...
Cinnaminta is now also the name of a street in Oxford - Cinnaminta Road, with houses, flats and some local shops. It is near the location where Cripps met with Cinnaminta and was a well-known gypsy resting place.
![Cinnaminta n 1 a facility to give people an opportunity to have their prayer, remembrance, poem, thought, etc read out in a location they cannot visit. 2 the name of a beautiful gypsy princess [C19: after a character in R. D. Blackmore's story Cripps the Carrier, A Woodland Tale]](/resources/images/language/t_cinnaminta_description_en.png)
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