Encyclopedia of Taboos

(Hardback)

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Description

What are the origins of table manners What are the politics of cannibalism Why is the left hand thought to be sinister These apparently unrelated questions all hinge on the fundamental notion of taboo. Far from being peripheral leftovers from distant times and places, taboos are a crucial part of any society, determing how people must and must not behave. Yet the topic has rarely been discussed in any comprehensive way in recent years,as though the word itself has become taboo in our efforts to dispel the myth of the irrationality of supposedly "primitive" cultures. This reference book is a mine of unusual information, including a comprehensive analysis of individual taboos from the ancient world to the present day, covering both well- and lesser-known examples.

Reviews

"Public libraries and junior college and college libraries where there is interest will find this a useful addition." - Booklist "Recommended for public and academic libraries." - Choice "Casual readers will be intrigued by the variety of taboos covered, which include those relating to beans, the color red, the origin of table manners, and cannibalism. Students and researchers will find most entries well detailed and based on solid research. Recommended for reference collections in both academic and public libraries." - Library Journal "Written in an engaging style, this fascinating book is sure to interest both those with a special interest in the field as well as general readers. It is recommended for academic and public libraries." - American Reference Books Annual "Taken in conjunction with the scholarly approach to the subject, the book is an 'encyclopedia-plus', usefully filling the gap in the subject noted by the author in her brief preface." - Reference Reviews

Author Bio

Lynn Holden is a post-doctoral fellow at the School of Scottish Studies, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, Scotland.