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Victor Witter Turner
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The Forest of Symbols: Aspects of Ndembu Ritual (Cornell Paperbacks) Paperback – Project Calendar, February 28, 1970

by Victor Turner (Author)
4.7 4.7 out of 5 stars 29 ratings
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A collection of ten of the most brilliant and important essays on ritual yet written. These papers by Victor Turner... are all seminal and distinguished. ― American Anthropologist

A pioneering work of high quality, this collection of anthropological studies provides one of the most detailed records available for an African society—or indeed for any group—of the semantics of ritual symbolism. It combines unusually detailed ethnographic description, based upon field work among the Ndembu of Zambia, with remarkable theoretical sophistication. Professor Turner describes the ritual phenomena in terms both of practice and of their sociological and psychological implications within a preliterate society.

Case histories illustrate the function of ritual in creating community harmony. Data on circumcision rites and medical practices and an essay on color classification have wide implications for comparative analysis. Excellent photographs and useful diagrams complement the text.

Previous page
  1. Print length
    417 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Publisher
    Cornell University Press
  4. Publication date
    February 28, 1970
  5. Reading age
    18 years and up
  6. Dimensions
    5.5 x 0.96 x 8.5 inches
  7. ISBN-10
    0801491010
  8. ISBN-13
    978-0801491016
  9. See all details
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Editorial Reviews

Review

A collection of ten of the most brilliant and important essays on ritual yet written. These papers by Victor Turner... are all seminal and distinguished.

― American Anthropologist

Review

This is a collection of ten essays dealing with various aspects of symbolism and ritual among the Ndembu of Zambia in central Africa.... Using data of extraordinary richness, it presents some of the most provocative and suggestive theories recently advanced in the study of ritual behavior and symbolism.... It provides one of the few postwar studies sure to rank as an ethnographic classic.

― Africa

Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Cornell University Press (February 28, 1970)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Paperback ‏ : ‎ 417 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0801491010
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0801491016
  • Reading age ‏ : ‎ 18 years and up
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 1 pounds
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 5.5 x 0.96 x 8.5 inches
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.7 4.7 out of 5 stars 29 ratings

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Victor Witter Turner

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Customer reviews

4.7 out of 5 stars
4.7 out of 5
29 global ratings

Top reviews from the United States

Penny Alex
5.0 out of 5 stars excellent!
Reviewed in the United States on June 8, 2019
Verified Purchase
My order came in aexcellent condition and it had no dellay! I am very pleased! Thank you!
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Yingxin Ni
5.0 out of 5 stars Five Stars
Reviewed in the United States on September 21, 2014
good！
One person found this helpful
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JohnnnySmallls
4.0 out of 5 stars Terrific
Reviewed in the United States on December 26, 2011
Turner writes a classic of what it means to successfully complete an ethnographic study. What my professors did to better explain this work (centered on Zambia) is build upon it to show how the Western world has captured and portrayed the modern Olympics. The role of symbols in social processes is better understood by this reader because of Turner.
5 people found this helpful
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Nazani
4.0 out of 5 stars essays on symbolism and ritual
Reviewed in the United States on April 30, 2011
Considered an ethnographic classic. Victor Turner, a professor at Cornell, was known for his work in both anthropology and the behavioral sciences. These essays go far beyond meticulous recording of Zambian ritual to examine the role of symbols in social processes. Topics include medicine, witchcraft, morality, social structure, rites of passage, color classification, and the role of symbols in so many aspects of tribal life. Photographs, charts, and lists.
7 people found this helpful
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Top reviews from other countries

Jenny Daniel
4.0 out of 5 stars Essential reading for anthropologists
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on December 12, 2012
Verified Purchase
This is one of the seminal books of the study of anthropology. A little turgid to modern readers, perhaps, but fascinating and essential reading.
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