Morris dancing, one of the more peculiar of the English folk customs, has been greatly misunderstood. In The History of Morris Dancing, 1458-1750 John Forrest analyses a wealth of evidence to show that Morris dancing does not, as is often assumed, have pagan or ancient origins. He examines early documentation to draw Morris traditions into the wide area of communal custom and public celebrations, showing the passage of dance ideas between groups previously considered folklorically distinct...

Combines anthropology’s four subfields to explore what it means to be humanIntroduction to Holistic Anthropology invites students to rediscover anthropology as Franz Boas once envisioned it — a unified discipline that integrates biological, historical, linguistic, and cultural perspectives to understand human diversity and commonality. In contrast to the fragmented state of the field today, where sub-disciplines often operate in isolation, this innovative ...

Lord I'm Coming Home focuses on a small, white, rural fishing community on the southern reaches of the Great Dismal Swamp in North Carolina. By means of a new kind of anthropological fieldwork, John Forrest seeks to document the entire aesthetic experience of a group of people, showing the aesthetic to be an "everyday experience and not some rarefied and pure behavior reserved for an artistic elite."The opening chapter of the book is a viv...

Don't just see the sights—get to know the people.Peru's distinctive Spanish and indigenous cultures that first encountered each other five hundred years ago have progressively integrated. However, the ongoing process of mixing raises questions about the nature of Peruvian identity, and Peruvian society remains economically and culturally divided.Culture Smart! Peru introduces you to the changing realities of modern Peru. It describes conte...

Traditional quilts serve many purposes over the course of a useful life. Beginning as a beautiful bed covering, a quilt may later function as a ground cover at picnics until years of wear relegate it to someone's ragbag for scrap uses.Observing this life cycle led authors John Forrest and Deborah Blincoe to the idea that quilts, like living things, have a natural history that can be studied scientifically. They explore that natural history through an examination of the taxonomy, mo...

Life histories are a class of oral data distinct from memoirs, autobiography, and conventional history in multiple ways. It is a way to lay out the felt experience of events in people’s everyday lives and not simply the statement of historical facts. As narrated pieces, life histories possess the unique voice of the individuals. Collecting data through life histories enables the interviewer-interviewee to develop a special bond that has the capacity to empower both in different ways. S...

An anthlogy of Christmas stories, this book features seven illustratedstories which evoke nostalgic, humourous and touching reminiscences about home, family and the Christmas season. In the tradition of O'Henry's "Gift of the Magi" this collection captures that special time of year when people become larger than themselves, when the atmosphere crackles with anticipation and miracles do happen. In the words of reviewer Lloyd Dennis "This book offers readers wondrous tales of Christmas magic...

"Home For Christmas - A Family Saga of Rural Canada " is an exciting fictional follow-up to Forrest's best selling "Angels Stars and Trees" collection of holiday tales. This fresh anthology of joyous and uplifting Christmas stories recounts the drama, humour and joy of yuletide as the Stones, a depression era farm family, thrive through the challenges of two decades of Christmas adventures. Forrest pays loving attention to historical detail and each story is richly complemented by ...

A must-read guide to conducting qualitative field research in the social sciencesDoing Field Projects: Methods and Practice for Social and Anthropological Research delivers a thorough and insightful introduction to qualitative field methods in the social sciences. Ideal for undergraduate students just starting out in fields like anthropology, sociology, and related subjects, the book offers readers twenty instructive projects. Each project is well-suited a...

Explorations in search of Dr. Leichardt and party. 2. From Perth to Adelaide, around the Great Australian Bight. 3. From Champion Bay, across the desert to the telegraph and to Adelaide. With an appendix on the condition of Western Australia. First published in 1875.

In "Explorations in Australia," John Forrest presents a captivating account of his extensive journeys through the uncharted territories of Australia in the late 19th century. Written in a meticulous narrative style, the book combines vivid descriptions of the Australian landscapes with insightful reflections on the Indigenous cultures and the ecological complexities observed during his expeditions. Forrest's work is situated within the broader context of exploration literature of the time,...

For those contemplating religious choices, Unitarian Universalism offers an appealing alternative to religious denominations that stress theological creeds over individual conviction and belief. In this new edition of the classic introductory text on Unitarian Universalism, which includes a revealing, entertaining foreword by best-selling author Robert Fulghum (All I Really Need to Know I Learned in Kindergarten, It Was on Fire When I Lay Down on It), a new preface by UU moderator...