In the early 18th century; the Dutch colony of Suriname was the envy of all others in the Americas. There; seven hundred Europeans lived off the labor of over four thousand enslaved Africans. Owned by men hell-bent for quick prosperity; the rich plantations on the Suriname river became known for their heights of planter comfort and opulence--and for their depths of slave misery. Slaves who tried to escape were hunted by the planter militia. If found they were publicly tortured. (A common punishment was for the Achilles tendon to be removed for a first offense; the right leg amputated for a second.) Resisting this cruelty first in small numbers; then in an ever increasing torrent; slaves began to form outlaw communities until nearly one out of every ten Africans in Suriname was helping to build rebel villages in the jungle.Alabi's World relates the history of a nation founded by escaped slaves deep in the Latin American rain forest. It tells of the black men and women's bloody battles for independence; their uneasy truce with the colonial government; and the attempt of their great leader; Alabi; to reconcile his people with white law and a white God. In a unique historical experiment; Richard Price presents this history by weaving together four voices: the vivid historical accounts related by the slaves' descendants; largely those of Alabi's own villagers; the Saramaka; the reports of the often exasperated colonial officials sent to control the slave communities; the otherworldly diaries of the German Moravian missionaries determined to convert the heathen masses; and the historian's own; mediating voice. The Saramaka voices in these pages recall a world of powerful spirits--called obia's--and renowned heroes; great celebrations and fierce blood-feuds. They also recall; with unconcealed relish; successes in confounding the colonial officials and in bending the treaty to the benefit of their own people. From the opposite side of the negotiations; the colonial Postholders speak of the futility of trying to hold the village leaders to their vow to return any further runaway slaves. Equally frustrated; the Moravian missionaries describe the rigors of their proselytising efforts in the black villages--places of licentiousness and idol-worship that seemed to be "a foretaste of what hell must be like." Among their only zealous converts was Alabi; who stood nearly alone in his attempts to bridge the cultural gap between black and white--defiantly working to lead his people on the path toward harmony with their former enemies. From the confluence of these voices--set throughout the book in four different typefaces--Price creates a fully nuanced portrait of the collision of cultures. It is a confrontation; he suggests; that was enacted thousands of times across the slaveholding Americas as white men strained to suppress black culture and blacks resisted-- determined to preserve their heritage and beliefs.
#1513183 in Books Cornell University Press 2000-05-25Original language:EnglishPDF # 1 8.00 x .52 x 5.00l; .55 #File Name: 0801486548264 pages
Review
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful. The Priests of Ancient Egypt: New Edition by Serge Sauneron; David Lorton; Jean-Pierre CorteggianiBy Joshua SilvermanThis is one of the few books which emphasizes the duties of the priests and their functions in the sphere of ancient Egyptian religion. While most books on ancient Egyptian religion discuss the ancient Egyptian gods and goddesses and their roles in the mythologies of the ancient culture; Sauneron (I keep thinking of Sauron the White from Lord of the Rings when I read his name); instead chooses to place his focus on the daily life of the actual priests.The book is vast in its contents and touches on everything from the corruption in the priesthood and the bribery which inevitably happens in every vast religious organization; to the mundane in regards to dietary restrictions; cleanliness; fornication; and dress code. Some of the more elaborate chapters which I liked focused on the actual rituals of morning prayers; mid-afternoon prayers; and evening prayer rights.Because I've had to read an enormous amount of books on ancient Egyptian religion for my series; Legends of Amun Ra; I was still amazed to find out how little I knew about the actual priests themselves and their daily rituals. Most of what I've written about the Amun Priests for my series has been extracted from my imagination of what ancient priests would have acted like. But now; by reading The Priests of Ancient Egypt; my series could be more realistic with how priests actually conducted themselves.But; the best thing about this book is that it is not a dry or slow read like most non-fiction books. Sauneron makes the study of the priests and ancient Egyptian religion fun and exciting. His book was well balanced; neither praising the ancient priests nor lambasting them for odd practices and beliefs. My only complaint was that he used too many Greek translations instead of using the original Egyptian verbiage.2 of 2 people found the following review helpful. Readable and Packed With Great InformationBy DellaSauneron's book is a classic for a good reason: it's filled with interesting; well-written information. The work isn't dull and dry; like some scholarly books can be.I really loved how Sauneron took a balanced view of the priests. He neither glorified nor villified them; but rather laid out the information in an impartial way.My only complaint is the book's materials are of. . . less-than-great quality. I've had this book for only two weeks and already the covers are beginning to split at the corners. It doesn't affect the readability; but it sure does affect the book's portability! I don't want to carry it around when in this condition; lest I damage it even more.Still; five stars. Definitely worth your time.17 of 17 people found the following review helpful. This book is both a hoot and a living historyBy L. D. BoresThis is not dry reading. The author (or the translator or both) have a droll sense of what people are really like and his descriptions of 'evil-doers' in the priesthood are a riot. In so expressing himself with these observations of human foibles; he manages to make history come alive and his subject suddenly 'more human' thereby.A reccomended read for any student of ancient Egypt; Phd or not. This book deserves a place on every egyptophiles bookshelf.
