Return to Laughter: An Anthropological Novel

by Elenore Smith Bowen

Paperback, 1964

Status

Available

Call number

813.54

Collection

Publication

Doubleday Anchor Books (1964), Paperback, 320 pages

Description

A vivid and dramatic account of the experiences of an American anthropologist who lived with a primitive bush tribe in Africa.

User reviews

LibraryThing member hemlokgang
This novel was a thinly disguised autobiographical tale of one highly regarded, Caucasian, female anthropologist's time living with a West African tribe. Elenore Smith Bowen is the nom de plume of Laura Bohannon. She was not certain as to how her choice to write a novel would go over amongst her
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professional peers, so practiced a bit of subterfuge. She describes the protagonist's awkward and complex immersion in the tribe, the profoundly transformative experience of truly coming to understand another culture's belief system, and the ultimate understanding of how her tribe finds joy amidst struggle. Great detail let's the reader truly get a glimpse into the complexity of the transformation. Fascinating to the end.
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Language

Original publication date

1954

Physical description

320 p.; 8.35 inches

ISBN

0385053126 / 9780385053129
Page: 0.501 seconds