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The People of the Sierra

Second Edition

2d edition
The People of the Sierra presents an engrossing account of the social structure of a rural community in Andalusia, the mountainous region of southern Spain. The author applies the principles of social anthropology, without recourse to jargon, to determine the nature of the leaders of a European peasant society—the mayor, doctor, lawyer, priest—and also the smugglers, bandits, "witches," and gypsies who live on the fringe.

For his second edition of The People of the Sierra Julian A. Pitt-River has unmasked the village of Grazalema which had been protectively cloaked in pseudonym for the original version. In addition he has added a new preface which elaborates upon his earlier theories on norms, values, and social structure, and reconsiders them in the light of current theories of other social scientists.

Because of its unique and penetrating observations, not only Hispanic, Mediterranean, and European but also Latin American scholars regard this book as one of the foundation stones of contemporary cultural studies in several disciplines. Beyond the significance of its substance and theory, this study has considerable merit as a humane work of subtle perception and artful execution.

260 pages | 5.25 x 8 | © 1972

Anthropology: Cultural and Social Anthropology

Table of Contents

List of Illustrations
Preface to the Second Edition
Preface to the First Edition
I. El Pueblo. (i) The Boundaries of the Community
II. El Pueblo. (ii) The Community and the World
III. Occupation and Wealth (i) Agriculture
IV. Occupation and Wealth. (ii) Industry and Trade
V. Status and Age
VI. The Sexes. (i) Courting: the Values of the Male
VII. The Sexes. (ii) Marriage and the Family
VIII. The Sexes. (iii) The Values of the Female
IX. Political Structure
X. Friendship and Authority
XI. Law and Morality. (i) Nicknames and the Vito
XII. Law and Morality. (ii) Bandits and Gypsies
XIII. Law and Morality. (iii) The Supernatural
XIV. Conclusion
Appendix: The Present and the Past
Glossary
Index

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