Gypsy World

The Silence of the Living and the Voices of the Dead

By: Patrick Williams, Catherine Tihanyi (Translator)

Write A Review

Hardcover | 15 June 2003 | Edition Number 1

At a Glance

Hardcover
115 Pages

Dimensions(cm)
21.71 x 14.8 x 1.72

Hardcover

$275.99

or 4 interest-free payments of $69.00 with

Ships in 5 to 10 business days

For many of us, one of the most important ways of coping with the death of a close relative is talking about them, telling all who will listen what they meant to us. Yet the Gypsies of central France, the Manus, not only do not speak of their dead, they burn or discard the deceased's belongings, refrain from eating the dead person's favorite foods, and avoid camping in the place where they died.
In "Gypsy World," Patrick Williams argues that these customs are at the center of how Manus see the world and their place in it. The Manus inhabit a world created by the "Gadzos" (non-Gypsies), who frequently limit or even prohibit Manus movements within it. To claim this world for themselves, the Manus employ a principle of cosmological subtraction: just as the dead seem to be absent from Manus society, argues Williams, so too do the Manus absent themselves from Gadzo society--and in so doing they assert and preserve their own separate culture and identity.

Anyone interested in Gypsies, death rituals, or the formation of culture will enjoy this fascinating and sensitive ethnography.

Industry Reviews

"His immensely detailed study of the observances and practices by the Manus of their dead throws light on the wider questions of cultural creation and persistence. Thus the study moves beyond any exotic record of difference and any anecdotal accumulation of hitherto hidden practices and beliefs. . . . His detailed ethnography is awesome, with multiple examples from a variety of individuals over time. . . . This study confronts the reader with the subtle creation of silent cultural practices and the quiet appropriation of limited territory by one of many Gypsy/Roma groups throughout the West. They redefine the dominant cultures which they cannot overthrow, but in which they survive with some creative autonomy."

--Judith Okely "Anthropological Quarterly"

"Williams shows that a Gadzo like himself who has spent a lifetime with the Manus . . . can develop a profound understanding for their world and transmit that understanding in a beautifully written text. This book is a must for anyone interested in culturally connected time and space, memory, performance of culture, Gypsy/Roma and Manus cultures, anthropology, philosophy, silence, and the beauty of life."

--Iren Kertesz Wilkinson, "Journal of the Royal Anthropological Institute"

"Williams's rigorous approach is at once effective and poetic. [Gypsy World] marries theory with experience and is no doubt one of the strongest books in print today on the Gypsies."

--Jacques Meunier "Le Monde"

Shipping

	Standard Shipping	Express Shipping
Metro postcodes:	$9.99	$14.95
Regional postcodes:	$9.99	$14.95
Rural postcodes:	$9.99	$14.95

Orders over $79.00 qualify for free shipping.

How to return your order

At Booktopia, we offer hassle-free returns in accordance with our returns policy. If you wish to return an item, please get in touch with Booktopia Customer Care.

Additional postage charges may be applicable.

Defective items

If there is a problem with any of the items received for your order then the Booktopia Customer Care team is ready to assist you.

For more info please visit our Help Centre.

You Can Find This Book In

Non-Fiction Society & Culture Social Issues & Processes Social Discrimination & Inequality Sociology & Anthropology Sociology Sociology & Customs & Traditions Social Theory Anthropology Sociology & Death & Dying Miscellaneous Items Family & Health

List of Photographs
Translator's Acknowledgments
Pre-text
Mare Mule: The Dead among the Living
Civilizing the World
The Basket Makers Have Become Scrap-Iron Dealers
Commmentary
Notes
References
Index
Table of Contents provided by Publisher. All Rights Reserved.

Gypsy World

The Silence of the Living and the Voices of the Dead

At a Glance

Hardcover

Industry Reviews

Shipping

How to return your order

Defective items

You Can Find This Book In

More in Family & Health

Age Like a Girl

How Menopause Rewires Your Brain for Mental Clarity, Increased Confidence, and Renewed Energy

Cozy Bookshops

Colouring Book

The Shadow Work Journal

Weightless

A Doctor's Guide to Weight-Loss Medications, Sustainable Results and the Health You Deserve

This is Vital Information

Everything You're Too Embarrassed to Ask Your Doctor (But Really Should)

How to Love Your Afro

Your Holistic Natural Hair and Self-Love Guide - from the Host of the Texture Talks Podcast

Episodes

The Diary of a Recovering Mad Man

Unapologetically ADHD

A Step-by-Step Framework For Everyday Planning On Your Terms

Hormonal Harmony

A woman's guide to puberty, fertility, menopause and beyond

The Power of Protein

150+ recipes for everyday strength, energy and wellness

The ADHD Brain Buddy

A practical toolkit for adults navigating a more ADHD-friendly life

Guided

The secret path to an illuminated life

The Forever Strong PLAYBOOK

A six-week, science-based plan to sharpen your mind, strengthen your body, and get healthy at any age

Ma: The Japanese Secret to Contemplation and Calm

An Invitation to Awareness

How to Have an Epic Retirement

Updated Edition

Cure Your Fatigue, Second Edition

The Root Cause and How to Fix It On Your Own

The Power of Choice

No-Nonsense Nutrition

Science-based Principles and Easy Recipes to Reset Appetite, Boost Energy, Feel Amazing and Transform Your Health

I'm Glad My Mom Died

Joy Chose You: Words for Hope, Comfort and Light

The instant Sunday Times bestseller & perfect gift

Filling Meals

100 simple hunger-busting recipes for sustainable weight loss

This Might Surprise You

A Breast Cancer Story

Death by Comfort

How modern life is killing us and what we can do about it

Death of an Ordinary Man

This product is categorised by