Lost people : magic and the legacy of slavery in Madagascar

Betafo, A Rural Community In Central Madagascar, Is Divided Between The Descendants Of Nobles And Descendants Of Slaves. Anthropologist David Graeber Arrived For Fieldwork At The Height Of Tensions Attributed To A Disastrous Communal Ordeal Two Years Earlier. As Graeber Uncovers The Layers Of Historical, Social, And Cultural Knowledge Required To Understand This Event, He Elaborates A New View Of Power, Inequality, And The Political Role Of Narrative. Combining Theoretical Subtlety, A Compelling Narrative Line, And Vividly Drawn Characters, Lost People Is A Singular Contribution To The Anthropology Of Politics And The Literature On Ethnographic Writing. -- Publisher Description. Notes On Malagasy Pronunciation -- Betafo, 1990 -- Royal Authority -- Negative Authority -- Character -- A Brief History Of Betafo -- Anti-heroic Politics -- The Trials Of Miadana -- Lost People -- The Descendants Of Rainitamaina -- It Must Have Gone Something Like This -- Catastrophe. David Graeber. Includes Bibliographical References (p. 437-445) And Index. Cover 1 Contents 8 Preface and Acknowledgments 10 Notes on Malagasy Pronunciation 14 1. Betafo, 1990 18 2. Royal Authority 50 3. Negative Authority 70 4. Character 90 5. A BriefHistory of Betafo 104 6. Anti-Heroic Politics 144 7.The Trials of Miadana 200 8. Lost People 218 9.The Descendants of Rainitamaina 261 10. It Must Have Gone Something Like This 326 11. Catastrophe 346 12. Epilogue 396 Glossary of Malagasy Terms 410 Personal Names in Text 414 Important Places Named in Text 418 Notes 420 Bibliography 454 Index 464 Content: Cover Contents Preface and Acknowledgments Notes on Malagasy Pronunciation 1. Betafo, 1990 2. Royal Authority 3. Negative Authority 4. Character 5. A BriefHistory of Betafo 6. Anti-Heroic Politics 7.The Trials of Miadana 8. Lost People 9.The Descendants of Rainitamaina 10. It Must Have Gone Something Like This 11. Catastrophe 12. Epilogue Glossary of Malagasy Terms Personal Names in Text Important Places Named in Text Notes Bibliography Index An epic account of the power of memory in Madagascar.