| Franz Boas Among the Inuit of Baffin Island, 1883-1884: Journals and Letters Revised Edition Contributor(s): Muller-Wille, Ludger (Editor), Barr, William (Translator) |
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ISBN: 0802041507 ISBN-13: 9780802041500 Publisher: University of Toronto Press OUR PRICE: $79.80 Product Type: Hardcover Published: December 1998 Annotation: In the summer of 1883, Franz Boas, widely regarded as one of the fathers of Inuit anthropology, sailed from Germany to Baffin Island to spend a year among the Inuit of Cumberland Sound. This was his introduction in the and to anthropological field work. This book presents, for the first time, his and journal entries from the year that he spent among the Inuit, which provide not only an insightful background to the numerous scientific articles he wrote about aspects of Inuit culture, but also a comprehensive and engaging narrative. Using a Scottish whaling station as his base, Boas traveled widely with the Inuit, learning their language, living in their tents and snow houses, sharing their food, and experiencing their joys and sorrows. He took detailed notes and surveyed and mapped the landscape and coastline. Dr. Ludger Muller-Wille has transcribed Franz Boa's journals and letters to his parents and fiancee and woven these texts into a sequential narrative. The result is a fascinating study of one of the earliest and most successful examples of participatory observation among the Inuit. Originally published in German in 1994, the text has been translated into English by William Barr, who has already published translations of important works on the history of the Arctic. The book is illustrated with some of Boas' own photos and with maps of his field area. Franz Boas with the Inuit of Baffin Island, 1883-1884 Journals and Letters is an extremely valuable addition to the historical and anthropological literature on southern Baffin Island, as well as an enlightening journey through a fascinating culture and place. |
| Additional Information |
| BISAC Categories: - Biography & Autobiography - Social Science | Ethnic Studies - General - Social Science | Anthropology - Cultural & Social |
| Dewey: B |
| LCCN: 99216117 |
| Physical Information: 1.16" H x 6.46" W x 9.2" (1.42 lbs) 312 pages |
| Themes: - Chronological Period - 19th Century |
| Descriptions, Reviews, Etc. |
| Publisher Description: In the summer of 1883, Franz Boas, widely regarded as one of the fathers of Inuit anthropology, sailed from Germany to Baffin Island to spend a year among the Inuit of Cumberland Sound. This was his introduction to the Arctic and to anthropological fieldwork. This book presents, for the first time, his letters and journal entries from the year that he spent among the Inuit, providing not only an insightful background to his numerous scientific articles about Inuit culture, but a comprehensive and engaging narrative as well. Using a Scottish whaling station as his base, Boas travelled widely with the Inuit, learning their language, living in their tents and snow houses, sharing their food, and experiencing their joys and sorrows. At the same time he was taking detailed notes and surveying and mapping the landscape and coastline. Ludger Müller-Wille has transcribed his journals and his letters to his parents and fiancé and woven these texts into a sequential narrative. The result is a fascinating study of one of the earliest and most successful examples of participatory observation among the Inuit. Originally published in German in 1994, the text has been translated into English by William Barr, who has also published translations of other important works on the history of the Arctic. Illustrated with some of Boas's own photos and with maps of his field area, Franz Boas among the Inuit of Baffin Island, 1883-1884 is a valuable addition to the historical and anthropological literature on southern Baffin Island. |
Contributor Bio(s): Muller-Wille, Ludger: - Ludger M?ller-Wille is an associate professor of Geography at McGill University. His book Franz Boas. Bei den Inuit in Baffinland 1883-1884, Tageb?cher und Briefe was first published in German by Reinhold Schletzer Verlag, Berlin, in1994.Barr, William: - William Barr is professor of Geography at the University of Saskatchewan, editor and translator of A Frenchman in Search of Franklin: De Bray's Arctic Journal, 1852-1854, and Overland to Starvation Cove: With the Inuit in Search of Franklin, 1878-1880. |