Twins in the World : The Legends They Inspire and the Lives They Lead

In This Compelling Narrative, Alessandra Piontelli Explores The Different Roles That Twins Play In Societies Around The World. In Her Travels Throughout Africa, Asia, South America, And The Pacific Rim, Piontelli Has Observed How Some Cultures Deify Twins While Other Cultures Attribute Evil Spirits To Them And Others Outright Destroy All Multiple Siblings. Twins In The World Mixes Anthropology, Ethnography, And Religious Studies To Show The Most Critical Aspect Of Comparative World Culture--how A Society Cares For Its Young--through The Lens Of Twins, Who Seem To Hold A Special Place In All Cultures. Introduction: A Personal Journey -- Our Twins -- Voodoo Twins -- Stone Idols -- The Big Shock -- Keepers And Outcasts -- Forced Adoption And The Sex Trade -- Let Nature Take Its Course -- The Hold Of Superstition -- Heart Of Darkness -- One Gender And One Only -- Abuse And Neglect -- Till Death Us Do Part -- Conclusion: Bringing It All Back Home. Alessandra Piontelli. Includes Bibliographical References (p. [235]-245) And Index. In this compelling narrative Piontelli explores the different roles that twins play in societies around the world. In her travels around the world, Piontelli has studied the role of twins, especially throughout Africa, Asia, South America, and the Pacific rim, observing different cultural perspectives and how differing societies treat them. In this compelling narrative, Alessandra Piontelli explores the different roles that twins play in societies around the world. In her travels throughout Africa, Asia, South America, and the Pacific rim, Piontelli has observed how some cultures deify twins while other cultures attribute evil spirits to them and others outright destroy all multiple siblings. Twins in the World mixes anthropology, ethnography, and religious studies to show the most critical aspect of comparative world culture - how a society cares for its young - through the lens of twins, who seem to hold a special place in all cultures Contents......Page 8 List of Figures......Page 10 Acknowledgments......Page 12 Introduction: A Personal Journey......Page 14 1 Our Twins......Page 24 2 Voodoo Twins......Page 38 3 Stone Idols......Page 54 4 The Big Shock......Page 66 5 Keepers and Outcasts......Page 80 6 Forced Adoption and the Sex Trade......Page 96 7 Let Nature Take Its Course......Page 112 8 The Hold of Superstition......Page 130 9 Heart of Darkness......Page 150 10 One Gender and One Only......Page 172 11 Abuse and Neglect......Page 186 12 Till Death Us Do Part......Page 198 Conclusion: Bringing It All Back Home......Page 216 Notes......Page 234 Bibliography......Page 248 B......Page 260 D......Page 261 I......Page 262 M......Page 263 P......Page 264 T......Page 265 Z......Page 266 Palgrave Macmillan Contents 8 List of Figures 10 Acknowledgments 12 Introduction: A Personal Journey 14 1 Our Twins 24 2 Voodoo Twins 38 3 Stone Idols 54 4 The Big Shock 66 5 Keepers and Outcasts 80 6 Forced Adoption and the Sex Trade 96 7 Let Nature Take Its Course 112 8 The Hold of Superstition 130 9 Heart of Darkness 150 10 One Gender and One Only 172 11 Abuse and Neglect 186 12 Till Death Us Do Part 198 Conclusion: Bringing It All Back Home 216 Notes 234 Bibliography 248 Index 260 A 260 B 260 C 261 D 261 E 262 F 262 G 262 H 262 I 262 J 263 K 263 L 263 M 263 N 264 O 264 P 264 Q 265 R 265 S 265 T 265 U 266 V 266 W 266 Z 266 ISBN-13:,9780230605961 In this compelling narrative, Alessandra Piontelli explores the different roles that twins play in societies around the world. In her travels throughout Africa, Asia, South America, and the Pacific rim, Piontelli has observed how some cultures deify twins while other cultures attribute evil spirits to them and others outright destroy all multiple siblings. Twins in the World mixes anthropology, ethnography, and religious studies to show the most critical aspect of comparative world culture--how a society cares for its young--through the lens of twins, who seem to hold a special place in all cultures.--Résumé de l'éditeur