Additional information
by Bronislaw Malinowski (Author), James George Frazer (Foreword by)
Argonauts of the Western Pacific is a book written by Bronislaw Malinowski in 1922. It is an anthropological study of the indigenous people of Melanesian New Guinea and their economic and social systems. The book is based on Malinowski's fieldwork in the region between 1915 and 1918, during which he lived with the Trobriand Islanders and observed their daily activities, rituals, and beliefs. The book is divided into three parts. The first part provides an overview of the Trobriand Islanders' social structure, economy, and religious beliefs. The second part focuses on the Kula ring, a complex system of trade and exchange between the Trobriand Islanders and their neighboring islands. Malinowski describes in detail the objects exchanged, the rituals involved, and the social status attached to participation in the Kula ring. The third part of the book examines the Trobriand Islanders' magic and religion, including their beliefs in spirits, sorcery, and the afterlife.Argonauts of the Western Pacific is considered a classic work in the field of anthropology and is widely regarded as one of the most important ethnographic studies ever conducted. Malinowski's meticulous observations and detailed descriptions of Trobriand Islanders' social and economic systems have influenced generations of anthropologists and continue to be studied and debated today.This scarce antiquarian book is a facsimile reprint of the old original and may contain some imperfections such as library marks and notations. Because we believe this work is culturally important, we have made it available as part of our commitment for protecting, preserving, and promoting the world's literature in affordable, high quality, modern editions, that are true to their original work.
