Author
Edgar Thurston
1855-1935
Edgar Thurston (1855-1935) is a public-domain author available on Rivro. Read free books, explore subjects, and discover related classics.
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Books by Edgar Thurston
Omens and Superstitions of Southern India
"Omens and Superstitions of Southern India" by Edgar Thurston is a detailed ethnographic study written in the early 20th century. The work explores the various beliefs, omens, and superstitions prevalent among the inhabitants of Southern India, specifically focusing on the regions of Madras, Travancore, and Cochin. Through a collection of observations, historical references, and ethnographic data, Thurston aims to illuminate the psychical dimensions and cultural practices associated with these beliefs. The opening of the book presents an extensive overview of omens, referencing traditional customs surrounding various bodily sensations and actions taken in everyday life, particularly in the context of significant events such as marriage or travel. Thurston showcases examples of how certain animals or objects provide signs interpreted as either good or bad omens, informed by local folklore and practices. He emphasizes the significance of omens across different castes and communities, illustrating their importance in guiding daily decisions and rituals. The preface sets the framework for a comprehensive examination of the superstitions that shape the cultural landscape of Southern India, providing readers with insight into the rich tapestry of beliefs that influence societal behaviors.
Castes and Tribes of Southern India. Vol. 6 of 7
"Castes and Tribes of Southern India. Vol. 6 of 7" by Edgar Thurston is a seven-volume encyclopedia published in 1909. Part of the Ethnographic Survey of India project, this ambitious work documents the manners, customs, and physical characteristics of over 300 castes and tribes across southern India, covering more than 40 million people. Using controversial anthropometric methods, Thurston faced significant resistance from suspicious subjects who feared his true intentions, resulting in a complex record of tribal life that remains both historically valuable and methodologically contested.
Castes and Tribes of Southern India. Vol. 4 of 7
"Castes and Tribes of Southern India. Vol. 4 of 7" by Edgar Thurston is a seven-volume encyclopedia published in 1909. Part of the British government's Ethnographic Survey of India, this ambitious work documents over 300 castes and tribes across southern India, covering 40 million people. Thurston employed anthropometric measurements to investigate social groups, though his subjects often met him with suspicion and fear. The work represents both a significant ethnographic record and a controversial example of colonial-era racial classification theories applied to Indian society.
Castes and Tribes of Southern India. Vol. 7 of 7
"Castes and Tribes of Southern India. Vol. 7 of 7" by Edgar Thurston is a seven-volume encyclopedia published in 1909. This monumental work documents over 300 castes and tribes of South India, covering 40 million people across 150,000 square miles. Part of the British Ethnographic Survey of India, Thurston used anthropometric methods to record physical characteristics, customs, and traditions, though subjects often feared his measurements. The survey faced suspicions ranging from museum display fears to military recruitment concerns, limiting sample sizes and shaping this controversial colonial-era ethnographic record.
Castes and Tribes of Southern India. Vol. 1 of 7
"Castes and Tribes of Southern India. Vol. 1 of 7" by Edgar Thurston is a seven-volume encyclopedia published in 1909. Part of the British government's Ethnographic Survey of India, this monumental work documents the manners, customs, and physical characteristics of over 300 social groups across southern India. Thurston employed controversial anthropometric methods to study over 40 million people, often encountering suspicion and resistance from communities who feared his true intentions. The resulting publication became both a comprehensive ethnographic record and a subject of scholarly debate.
Castes and Tribes of Southern India. Vol. 5 of 7
"Castes and Tribes of Southern India, Vol. 5 of 7" by Edgar Thurston is a seven-volume encyclopedia published in 1909. This monumental work documents over 300 castes and tribes across southern India, covering 40 million people. Part of the British Ethnographic Survey of India, Thurston conducted anthropometric measurements and recorded customs, traditions, and social structures of diverse communities in Madras Presidency and neighboring princely states, creating a comprehensive catalog of social groups during colonial rule.
Castes and Tribes of Southern India. Vol. 3 of 7
"Castes and Tribes of Southern India. Vol. 3 of 7" by Edgar Thurston is a seven-volume encyclopedia published in 1909. Part of the British Ethnographic Survey of India, this monumental work documents over 300 castes and tribes across Madras Presidency and surrounding princely states. Thurston investigated social customs, physical characteristics, and traditions of over 40 million people, employing anthropometric methods despite local suspicions and resistance. The work reflects both ambitious ethnographic documentation and the controversial racial theories of its era.
Castes and Tribes of Southern India. Vol. 2 of 7
"Castes and Tribes of Southern India, Vol. 2 of 7" by Edgar Thurston is a seven-volume encyclopedia published in 1909. This monumental work documents over 300 social groups across southern India, covering approximately 40 million people. Thurston employed controversial anthropometric methods to record physical characteristics, customs, and traditions of castes and tribes in the Madras Presidency and surrounding princely states. Despite methodological limitations and subjects' suspicions about his intentions, the encyclopedia remains a significant, though contested, ethnographic record of early twentieth-century Indian society.