Selected Writings of José Miguel de Barandiarán - (Basque Classics) (Paperback)

About the Book

Extracts from works by Basque ethnographer Barandiaran on Basque prehistory, mythology, magical beliefs, rural life, gender roles, and life events such as birth, marriage, and death, gleaned from interviews and excavations conducted in the rural Basque Country in the early to mid-twentieth century.

Book Synopsis

Noted Basque ethnographer José Miguel de Barandiarán was an exceptional witness to an entire century of the history of the Basque Country. He was born in 1889 and died in 1991, just prior to his 102nd birthday, having remained active until a year before his death. An ordained priest, he dedicated most of his life to researching the past of his homeland. His research included excavating caves and dolmens as well as recording the traditional lifeways, legends, and superstitions of the Basque people. His findings were published in hundreds of articles appearing in the Anuario de Eusko-folklore and other journals, as well as several monographs. This work includes an extensive introduction by the editor, Jesús Altuna, with biographical information on Barandiarán and a discussion of the selected writings. These are taken from Barandiarán's books Mitología vasca (Basque Mythology), El Hombre prehistórico en el País Vasco (Prehistoric Man in the Basque Country), and Bosquejo etnográfico de Sara (An Ethnographic Sketch of Sara). Included are a number of Barandiarán's drawings, plus photographs, bibliography, and an index.