The Gift The Form and Reason f

Mauss, Marcel

ISBN 10: 039332043X / ISBN 13: 9780393320435

Published by W. W. Norton & Company, 2000

Item in good condition. Textbooks may not include supplemental items i.e. CDs, access codes etc. Seller Inventory # 00104074890

Synopsis:

A brilliant example of the comparative method, The Gift presents the first systematic study of the custom--widespread in primitive societies from ancient Rome to present-day Melanesia--of exchanging gifts. The gift is a perfect example of what Mauss calls a total social phenomenon, since it involves legal, economic, moral, religious, aesthetic, and other dimensions. He sees the gift exchange as related to individuals and groups as much as to the objects themselves, and his analysis calls into question the social conventions and economic systems that had been taken for granted for so many years. In a modern translation, introduced by distinguished anthropologist Mary Douglas, The Gift is essential reading for students of social anthropology and sociology.

About the Authors: Marcel Mauss was a French sociologist and anthropologist. His work profoundly influenced the field of anthropology with respect to topics such as magic, sacrifice, and gift exchange in primitive cultures.

W. D. Halls was an author, educationist, and historian. He translated works by French authors, notably Marcel Mauss and Émile Durkheim, well into his retirement years.

Bibliographic Details

Title: The Gift The Form and Reason f
Publisher: W. W. Norton & Company
Publication Date: 2000
Binding: Soft cover
Condition: Good