The Italian peasantry has often been described as tragic, backward, hopeless, downtrodden, static, and passive. In Fate and Honor, Family and Village , Rudolph Bell argues against the characterizationmore by reconstructing the complete demographic history of four country villages since 1800. He analyzes births, marriages, and deaths in terms of four concepts that capture mroe accurately and sympathetically the essence of the Italian peasant life: fortuna (fate), onore (honor, dignity), famiglia (family), and ...
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The Italian peasantry has often been described as tragic, backward, hopeless, downtrodden, static, and passive. In Fate and Honor, Family and Village , Rudolph Bell argues against the characterizationmore by reconstructing the complete demographic history of four country villages since 1800. He analyzes births, marriages, and deaths in terms of four concepts that capture mroe accurately and sympathetically the essence of the Italian peasant life: fortuna (fate), onore (honor, dignity), famiglia (family), and campanilismo (village). Fortuna is the cultural wellspring of Italian peasant society, the world view from which all social life flows. The concept of fortuna does not refer to philosophical questions, predestination, or value judgments. Rather, fortuna is the sum total of all explanations of outcomes perceived to be beyond human control. Thus, in Bell's view, high mortality does not lead peasants to a resigned acceptance of their fate; instead, they rely on honor, reciprocal exchanges of favors, and marriage to forge new links in their familial and social networks. With thorough documentation in graphs and tables, the author evaluates peasant reactions to time, work, family, space, migration, and protest to portray rural Italians as active, flexible, and shrewd, participating fully in shaping their destinies. Bell asserts that the real problem of the Mezzogiorno is not one of resistance to technology, of high birth rates, or even of illiteracy. It is one of solving technical questions in ways that foster dependency. The historical and sociological practice of treating peasant culture as backward, secondary, and circumscribed only encourages disruption and ultimately blocks the road to economic and political justice in a postmodern world.
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Seller's Description:
Very good in very good dust jacket. The copy is lightly tanned and shows some external wear, but is in otherwise good condition. Very Clean Copy-Over 500, 000 Internet Orders Filled.
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Seller's Description:
Very good. Connecting readers with great books since 1972! Used books may not include companion materials, and may have some shelf wear or limited writing. We ship orders daily and Customer Service is our top priority!
Edition:
First Edition, First Printing by numberline
Language:
English
Alibris ID:
16051227332
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Seller's Description:
Chicago, University of Chicago Press, 1979, hardcover, xiv-269 pp, First Edition, First Printing by numberline, Fine in Near Fine dustjacket. Straight, tight and clean with no wear or markings. Bright, pictorial dustjacket, slight edge nicks, in new Brodart sleeve. The historian, educator, and author of Party and Faction in American Politics presents a systematic comparative ethnohistorical study of Italian peasantry from the beginning of the 19th century till the latter part of the 20th century. Profusely illustrated throughout with numerous tables and figures. Appended: Notes, Index.
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Seller's Description:
This is an ex-library book and may have the usual library/used-book markings inside. This book has hardback covers. In good all round condition. Please note the Image in this listing is a stock photo and may not match the covers of the actual item, 550grams, ISBN: 0226042081.
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Seller's Description:
Fine in Near Fine jacket. Book Fine first edition in clean unchipped jacket (now in new archival quality removable mylar cover). Clean dark brown cloth boards with bright gold lettering on spine. No bumping, fading or wear. All pages and edges are clean. No names, writing or marks. 269 pages with Index. Clean jacket is unchipped, no tears, slight fading to orange portion of spine.
