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A tale that has been more or less forgotten for centuries is brought back to life through archaelogical research and exploration in the forests of Madagascar. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

A great story hidden within
There's a great story tucked in "Red Slave..." A young seaman aboard an early 18th century English ship experiences shipwreck, survives a massacre, endures years of slavery and battles alongside his captors, all in mysterious Madagascar.It's a ripping good yarn and, as the authors prove, a true story.However the authors tease us with just the highlights of Robert Drury's amazing adventures and subsequent life as a slave trader.Much of the focus of their short book is an anthropological study of the southern Madagascar where Drury was held.
Imagine having such a story to tell and instead recounting your own experiences in the field with tales of trouble with the Land Rover, fears of spiders and current customs.
I'm sure "Red Slave..." has an audience among anthropologists or those interested in Madagascar. For the historian and student of 17th/18th-century sear faring adventures, this book merely whets the appetite.Hopefully a skilled historian/story teller such as Gilles Milton or Fergus Fleming will soon put their work to good use.Robert Drury's story is an amazing one and the author's deserve credit for helping establish its authenticity. ... Read more

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In The Weight of the Past, Michael Lambek explores the complex ways that history shapes, constrains, and enables daily life. Focusing on ritual performances of spirit mediumship in a multifaceted religious landscape, Lambek's analysis reveals the multiple ways that Sakalava "bear" history. In Mahajanga, Madagascar, to bear history is at once a weighty obligation, a creative re-birthing, a scrupulous cultivation, and an exuberant performance of the past.This book describes the division of labor, creative production, and ethical practice entailed in imagining, embodying, and serving the past. It is at once a vivid ethnography of Sakalava life and a significant intervention in anthropological debates on culture and history, structure and practice, advocating a theoretical approach informed by Aristotelian categories of understanding.
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Customer Reviews (2)

Excellent Book
Would recommend this book to anyone insterested in Succulents and Xerophytic plants. Great layout and well presented. Photography is great and makes you want to visit Madagascar.

A Masterful work!
This book is the most authoritive book ever written on Madagascan succulents. It has excellent descriptions of the geography and geology of Madagascar and includes hundreds of color pictures.This book has theright balance of technical information and straight forward descriptions.Definately for an enthusiast with the goal of developing a completereference library!A masterpiece! ... Read more

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Madagascar has recently come to the attention to global strategic planners.This report puts these executives on the fast track.Ten chapters provide: an overview of how to strategically access this important market, a discussion on economic fundamentals, marketing & distribution options, export and direct investment options, and full risk assessments (political, cultural, legal, human resources).Ample statistical benchmarks and comparative graphs are given. ... Read more

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Youth and identity politics figure prominently in this provocative study of personal and collective memory in Madagascar. A deeply nuanced ethnography of historical consciousness, it challenges many cross-cultural investigations of youth, for its key actors are not adults but schoolchildren. Lesley Sharp refutes dominant assumptions that African children are the helpless victims of postcolonial crises, incapable of organized, sustained collective thought or action.
She insists instead on the political agency of Malagasy youth who, as they decipher their current predicament, offer potent, historicized critiques of colonial violence, nationalist resistance, foreign mass media, and schoolyard survival. Sharp asserts that autobiography and national history are inextricably linked and therefore must be read in tandem, a process that exposes how political consciousness is forged in the classroom, within the home, and on the street in Madagascar.
Keywords: Critical pedagogy ... Read more

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Subtitle: Comprising a Political Account of the Island, the Religion, Manners, and Customs of Its Inhabitants, and Its Natural Productions: With an Appendix, Containing a History of the Several Attempts to Introduce Christianity Into the IslandGeneral Books publication date: 2009Original publication date: 1822Original Publisher: Burton and SmithSubjects: Natural historyEthnologyMadagascarHistory / Africa / GeneralHistory / Africa / South / GeneralHistory / Africa / South / Republic of South AfricaNature / GeneralSocial Science / Anthropology / GeneralSocial Science / Anthropology / CulturalNotes: This is a black and white OCR reprint of the original. It has no illustrations and there may be typos or missing text.When you buy the General Books edition of this book you get free trial access to Million-Books.com where you can select from more than a million books for free.Excerpt: CHAP. III.Soil -- Air and Climate -- Agriculture -- Towns -- Buildings.In a country of such extent, and comprehending so many degrees of latitude as Madagascar, the soil must necessarily be various : nevertheless, in general it consists of a deep rich mould, probably formed by the heavy accumulation of decayed vegetable matter, which is constantly increasing, the productions of nature being forced up by the mild temperature of the air, frequent showers of rain, and the innumerable springs and rivulets which run in every direction. But little artificial help is necessary to render this alluvial soil productive ; and though agriculture is much practised, the only. manure used by the natives is wood ashes, which they procure by burning large heaps of bamboo, and other wood. In many of the provinces there are large plains, where the soil is a stiff clay, of a reddish colour, producing abundance of grass. There is found also in some districts a red earth, similar to Bol Armenian, and another sort like that called Terra Sigellata, which is brought from the Isle of... ... Read more

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The circumcision ritual of the Merina of Madagascar is seen by them primarily as a blessing, involving the transfer of the love and concern of the ancestors of their descendants. Yet the ritual ends in an act of ciolent wounding of the child. Similarily, while the ritual involves a symbolic assault on women, it is nonetheless welcomed by them as a mark of receiving the blessing of the ancestors. In this book, Maurice Bloch provides a detailed description and analysis of the Merina circumcision ritual today, offers an account of its history, and discusses the significance of his analysis for anthropological theories of ritual in general. Pursuing the theme of the combination of religious joy and illumination with violence, Professor Bloch explains how, at various times, the circumcision ceremony can be a familial ritual as well as glorification of a militarist and expansionist state, or associated with anti-colonial nationalism. Describing changes that have occurred in the form of the ritual over two centuries, Professor Bloch argues that in order to understand the properties of ritual in general, it is necessary to view it over a longer time scale than anthropologists have tended to do previously. Adopting such an historical perspective enables him to identify the stability of the Merina ritual's symbolic content, despite changes in its organisation, and dramatically changing politico-economic contexts. As well as presenting an original historical approach to the anthropological study of ritua;, Professor Bloch discusses a range of general theoretical issues, including the nature of ideology, and the relationship between images created in ritual and other types of knowledge. The book will appeal widely to scholars and students of anthropology, history, African studies, and comparative religion. ... Read more

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s a field biologist, Heather Heying has been to some of the most remote, creature-filled places on the globe. But nothing she had previously experienced quite prepared her for the three seasons she spent in Madagascar studying poisonous frogs. An anciet island, it is also a scientists paradisealmost all of the wildlife there is endemic. However, Madagascars society is almost as unique as its nature. Language and cultural barriers, combined with bureaucratic red tape, can make it a scientists worst nightmare. Through anecdotes that are in turn hilarious, insightful, and beautiful, Heather recounts her adventuresfrom run-ins with naked sailors and unusually hostile lemurs to tropical hurricanes and greedy tourist entrepreneurs. As she carefully navigates a path through many obstacles, she not only reaches a gradual understanding of her place as a female Westerner in a foreign society, but reaffirms her intense love for and desire to save the stunning wildlife that surrounds her there. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (4)

A very enjoyable insight into Madagascar
I read this when traveling to Madagascar to get a sense of what the place was like.I found this book to be very descriptive, informative and enjoyable.Heather is a frog researcher.I was a bit bothered by how frogs are marked and what I learned about frog research, but setting that aside the rest of the book was very good.Heather talks about the nitty gritty of travel - getting from point A to B, what there is (or isn't) in the way of facilities and food, etc.But, mostly, she focuses on her interactions with the local Malagasy people and her life on the isolated island of Nosy Mangabe.Although she was there in the late 1990's, she probably didn't begin to foresee that Nosy Mangabe would become such a tourist island.Today, it is easier to reach and well worth the trip if you get to Madagascar.I found reading this gave me a much deeper appreciation and perspective on my trip than I would otherwise have had.

Transporting
A writer who can transport someone from the hard concrete unnatural world of NYC to a bambo well thousand of miles away in a remote tropical forrest has to be one I love!Really loved the connection to nature this brought for me.I'd love to read another travel log of Ms. Heyings.

A great look at Malagasy culture from a western viewpoint.
This book is focuses on what it's like for a western biologist (herpetologist) to go to Madagascar to study frogs. Heather Heying has a wonderful way with words that creates vibrant images of what she saw, heard, and felt while living there. Most of the focus is on cultural issues, including her own culture shock. Wildlife is used as a means of conveying her experiences and the experiences of the Malagasy people, not as the thrust or purpose of the book. I highly recommend this if you are at all interested in the people of Madagascar. This is a very well-written, engaging account.

A great read
Heying is a terrific writer and a keen observer of the world around her. She has traveled to Madagascar to research the behavior of tiny poisonous frogs but finds herself equally challenged by the strange behavior of the island's human inhabitants. The book is a thoughtful exploration of the predicament faced by forest creatures, the Malagasy people, and ultimately, the author herself. For those not lucky enough (or brave enough) to live in a remote tropical forest, this book provides a vivid portrait of the experience. ... Read more

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Studies interconnections between sound production, spirit possession, colonialism and ceremonial remembering in Madagascar. ... Read more

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This digital document is an article from Science World, published by Scholastic, Inc. on March 15, 2010. The length of the article is 1066 words. The page length shown above is based on a typical 300-word page. The article is delivered in HTML format and is available immediately after purchase. You can view it with any web browser.

Citation Details
Title: An uphill climb: scientists discover that animals are moving up a mountain in Madagascar.(EARTH: CLIMATE CHANGE)(Tsaratanana Massif)
Author: Britt Norlander
Publication: Science World (Magazine/Journal)
Date: March 15, 2010
Publisher: Scholastic, Inc.
Volume: 66Issue: 11-12Page: 22(5)

Distributed by Gale, a part of Cengage Learning ... Read more

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Madagascar, isolated for at least 120 million years and the fourth largest island in the world, is home to a remarkable variety of endemic animals and plants. This book is a guide to the unusual bird life of Madagascar. 40 watercolour illustrations provide clear and easy identification of all the Malagasy birds. Beginning with an overview of the natural habitats of Madagascar, the book then provides a general introduction to the avifauna. The endemic and endangered species are highlighted for each geographical region of the country. 17 prime bird observation sites are described in a section especially helpful to visitors to Madagascar. This section includes information on site accessibility, permit requirements, accommodation, observation facilities, and the species of birds found there. The guide to individual species is the heart of this book. Full information on each bird species is presented - descriptions of adults and immatures, song, habitat and dietary requirements, nesting habits, and distribution and status. The final section includes descriptions of birds not yet reported from Madagascar but likely to occur there, as well as distribution maps of the bird species.This book is a resource for bird enthusiasts and serious naturalists everywhere. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Outstanding Resource
Which probably isn't surprising, considering there aren't many books specifically for the birds of Madagascar.

The color plates in this book are in the middle, with numbers which correspond to detailed descriptions of each species before and after the plate section.This can make for a lot of flipping for the casual bird watcher, as you try to match a picture with a description/known region.

However, the behavior descriptions and text are very good.The color plates are high in quality and a pleasure to reference.Importantly, the book itself is sturdy enough to hold togther while being dragged through Madagascar!

It's fairly pricey, but for anyone who's planning to make a Madagascar trip, I'd definitely say it's worth it. ... Read more

Product Description
This book examines the rising of the menalamba, the Red Shawls, against French colonial rule in Madagascar in the 1890s. Using the words of the Malagasy themselves and the archives of the Malagasy kings and queens, as well as European records, it tells from the inside the story of an Afro-Asian society at a moment of crisis. In the century before the French conquest, rising tensions between modernising kings, self-seeking Christian oligarchs and reactionary guardians of the ancient talismans had weakened the capacity of the kingdom to resist. But just two months after the French occupation of the capital the menalamba revivalist movement sought to restore the customs of the ancestors and expel the French from the island. The civil war of 1895-9, fully described here for the first time, has cast a shadow on Malagasy politics ever since. ... Read more

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Betafo, a rural community in central Madagascar, is divided between the descendants of nobles and descendants of slaves. Anthropologist David Graeber arrived for fieldwork at the height of tensions attributed to a disastrous communal ordeal two years earlier. As Graeber uncovers the layers of historical, social, and cultural knowledge required to understand this event, he elaborates a new view of power, inequality, and the political role of narrative. Combining theoretical subtlety, a compelling narrative line, and vividly drawn characters, Lost People is a singular contribution to the anthropology of politics and the literature on ethnographic writing. ... Read more

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In southern Madagascar is a place called Berenty, where Tandroy tribesmen, French lords, mad scientists, and two or three species of lemurs may be found gathered peacefully under a single tamarind tree. The owner of Berenty, Jean de Heaulme, arrived there in 1928 as a six-month-old baby, in the sidecar of his father"s Harley-Davidson. He and his family lived through war and revolution, Madagascar"s independence (which they supported) and imprisonment. Through it all they devoted themselves to preserving the natural diversity of Berenty and to helping the Tandroy maintain their culture.
The Tandroy originally lived by cattle-raiding, clan warfare, and slavery. Now, although they have given up slavery and many of them work on plantations, they still live in traditional villages surrounded by walls of thorns. They have kept their cult of cattle and other customs, includingtheir exuberant funerals, with gunfire, dancing, sex, and sacrifices to the Ancestor.
Forty years ago scientist Alison Jolly was the first outsider to attend a Tandroy funeral. She went to Berenty to study lemurs and has been enthralled by the place ever since. In Lords and Lemurs she tells the story of Berenty, its people, and its other animals. Poignant and colorful, tragic and funny, it is a remarkable tale of one of the last great places on earth. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (11)

Lords and Lemurs
A lot of what is happening in Madagascar in term of conservation policy- and even politics in general, are deeply rooted in history of Madagascar, many of which are written in this book. This is mostly a political ecology book so if that is not your interest at all then ...
I thought I knew a lot about Madagascar before, but when I read this book, I was questioning many of the stories I was told to believe when I grew up.
I wish there is a french or Malagasy version of this book so that I can make some Malagasy kids read it. This is an amazing book.

Allison understands this unique place
During my years as a resident of Madagascar I had the great opportunity to meet and spend time with Allison Jolly, and also Helen Crowley and others and I get to know people who truly understand Madagascar and all that makes this land one of the most unique and wonderful places on earth. Indeed much of my own book was written while living there and the cover shot will there.

This book provides an insight into Madagascar that many may miss along the way, but is almost a must read for anyone who plans to sojourn there at some point in time.

Thanks Allison.

Read This Book Before Going
I really loved this book.I thought it was well written and can add little to the reviews posted before mine, except to say that I wish I had read it before my trip to Madagascar.I tried to read a little history in Brandt's guide book but this book brought it to life through a story whose characters and setting surround you during your visit to the Capitol and southern part of the country.

Rich, eclectic, and readable
This rich, unusual book is hard to categorize -- It is a fascinating combination of history and memoir by renowned naturalist Alison Jolly, who has been working in Madagascar since 1963.She uses her own experiences in primate research and environmental protection in Madagascar, as well as the reminiscences of her friends the de Heaulme family, proprietors of the Berenty Reserve and numerous holdings in and around Fort Dauphin in extreme southeast Madagascar, to comment on a wide range of issues such as colonization, Malagasy politics, ethnic groups of southern Madagascar, donor environment, food security, and so on.While this very readable volume focuses on the southern zone from Fort Dauphin to Berenty Reserve and Amboasary, it provides a wealth of contextual information about Madagascar in general.

Not What I Expected
As a biologist, I was hoping for more Lemur biology than what I got. This book is an excellent history of Madagasacar, without a doubt, and includes detail I am sure is found nowhere else. If one were planning a trip to Madagascar, this would be a perfect primer.

However, I was hoping for more of a biological approach regarding the Lemurs, their society, behavior, etc. While I did get a taste, it wasn't enough.

Sorry to admit, I got just over half way through the book before I lost interest. ... Read more

Product Description
Reprint of the 1896 edition. Hardbound. Cloth. Oversized Octavo. Vii, 469 P. Maps, Facsimiles. Rouen, E. Cagniard; Paris, A. Challamel, 1896. The written history of Madagascar began in the seventh century A.D., when Arabs established trading posts along the northwest coast. European contact began in the 1500s, when Portuguese sea captain Diego Dias sighted the island after his ship became separated from a fleet bound for India. In the late 17th century, the French established trading posts along the east coast. From about 1774 to 1824, it was a favorite haunt for pirates, including Americans, one of whom brought Malagasy rice to South Carolina. Beginning in the 1790s, Merina rulers succeeded in establishing hegemony over the major part of the island, including the coast. In 1817, the Merina ruler and the British governor of Mauritius concluded a treaty abolishing the slave trade, which had been important in Madagascar's economy. In return, the island received British military and financial assistance. British influence remained strong for several decades, during which the Merina court was converted to Anglicanism and Congregationalism. The British accepted the imposition of a French protectorate over Madagascar in 1885 in return for eventual control over Zanzibar (now part of Tanzania) and as part of an overall definition of spheres of influence in the area. Absolute French control over Madagascar was established by military force in 1895-96, and the Merina monarchy was abolished. Gravier's is the only comprehensive work on the subject, and is quite scarce. ... Read more

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This digital document is an article from Wilson Bulletin, published by Wilson Ornithological Society on March 1, 1999. The length of the article is 3797 words. The page length shown above is based on a typical 300-word page. The article is delivered in HTML format and is available in your Amazon.com Digital Locker immediately after purchase. You can view it with any web browser.

From the author: We investigated Madagascar Fish-Eagle (Haliaeetus vociferoides) foraging ecology to determine prey preference and the effect of fish abundance on fish-eagle foraging rates and foraging success. We observed fish-eagle foraging behavior at nine lakes in western Madagascar from May to August 1996, We sampled the fish population at each lake using gill nets and recorded fish weights and species. Introduced tilapia, Oreochromis spp. and Tilapia spp., made up the majority of both the gill net (66.3%) and fish-eagle catch (64.7%) in similar proportion, suggesting that the fish-eagle is an opportunistic predator. Consequently, replacement of native fish species by exotics probably has not been detrimental to the island's fish-eagle population. Male fish-eagle foraging success was positively correlated (P [less than] 0.001) with number of fish species, suggesting that fish species diversity may affect fish-eagle foraging effectiveness.

Citation Details
Title: Madagascar fish-eagle prey preference and foraging success.
Author: James Berkelman
Publication: Wilson Bulletin (Refereed)
Date: March 1, 1999
Publisher: Wilson Ornithological Society
Volume: 111Issue: 1Page: 15(7)

Distributed by Thomson Gale ... Read more