Book Description

This book gives a vivid and engaging account of anthropological exploration on a remote Greek island in the 1960s and is based on letters, progress reports, field notes and diary entries made at the time. These allow the reader to experience the bewildering early weeks of fieldwork in the Spring of 1966, the writer's first impressions, mistakes and understandings, and her attempts to make sense of what was going on during the sixteen months she spent on the island. The reader can also share in the emerging understanding resulting from long-term association and familiarity, gaining a sense of how months of work can be summed up in a short phrase or single sentence in later writings. Since the 1960s the author has returned to the island many times, and her later impressions and understandings are integrated in this book adding richness and depth to the material. This enables the reader, together with the author, to look back on those months from a viewpoint in the 90s.The islanders who regarded themselves as far from God in the sixties are now struggling to make a living from tourism, marketing their island as one of the unspoilt places in Greece. This is not only a dynamic and important reflexive account for the anthropologist, but an engaging and thoroughly enjoyable read for anyone interested in Greece or travel writing. Readers with an interest in modern history, sociology or Greek studies will also appreciate the depth and quality of Kenna's research as well as her accessible writing style.