Encyclopedia of Taboos

by Lynn Rosemary Holden

Overview

From ancient times to the present, taboos have affected our societies, as demonstrated in this encyclopedia full of unusual information from around the world.

The topic of taboos 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. The Encyclopedia of Taboos is a mine of unusual information from around the world, including a comprehensive analysis of individual taboos from the ancient world to the present day, covering both well- and lesser-known examples.

The A–Z articles cover the topics naturally associated with the concept of taboo—incest, cannibalism, pollution, food, art, dress, sex, and death—and also the foremost writers on the subject, including Sigmund Freud, Mary Douglas, Edmund Leach, Franz Steiner, and Frederick Barth.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781576070697
Publisher:	Bloomsbury Academic
Publication date:	12/01/2000
Pages:	302
Product dimensions:	7.00(w) x 10.00(h) x 0.75(d)
Age Range:	12 - 18 Years

About the Author

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

Editorial 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

From the Publisher

This guide to taboos examines certain aspects of their meaning, use, and importance in religion, economics, politics, and society. Holden is a postdoctoral fellow at the School of Scottish Studies, University of Edinburgh, an institution that undertakes the systematic and extensive recording of folklore and regional ethnology in the field. His overview includes taboos in traditional literature and folklore, as well as prohibitions within individual cultures and theories on specific taboos. The alphabetical entries are cross-referenced and cite other works for further research; a comprehensive index closes the text. 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.--Leroy Hommerding, Fort Myers Beach P.L. Dist., FL Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information.

Library Journal

A fascinating exploration of taboos, drawing on a range of disciplines, including anthropology, folklore, psychology, art, literature, music, and the natural sciences. Detailed entries, many several pages in length, examine topics normally associated with the concept of taboo, such as incest, cannibalism, and sex, as well as more mysterious matters, such as demonic dolls, fear of the written word, cannabis, and Zoroastrian purification rituals. Holden is a post-doctoral fellow at the University of Edinburgh. Annotation c. Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)

Booknews

From the origins of manners and etiquette to taboo behaviors and ideas in societies, Encyclopedia Of Taboos provides a variety of insights on taboos by such notable writers as Freud, Steiner and Barth. The encyclopedic organization allows for quick reference to particular taboos and their social and cultural implications.