Book

Scottish crofters: an historical ethnography of a Celtic village

Holt, Rinehart and WinstonNew York • Published In 1990 • Pages: xii, 175

By: Parman, Susan.

Abstract
This is a study of the crofting community of Geall (a pseudonym), located on the Isle of Lewis in the Scottish Outer Hebrides, with particular emphasis on its social organization and its relationship to the larger British and European society. Parman is also concerned with the construction of culture, particularly the creation of culture that involves historical references (p. 1). As background the author provides a history of the area, then discusses the significance of crofting to the Scottish Highlander. There are brief chapters on the Harris Tweed industry, leadership and social order in the village, kinship and marriage, religion and supernaturalism, and a detailed discussion of the roles played by liquor, religious conversions, and migrations as means of cultural resolution (through withdrawal) in reducing anxiety and frustration in the society.
Subjects
Domesticated animals
Pastoral activities
Tillage
Woven and other interworked fabrics
Textile industries
Land use
Real property
Conversation
Arranging a marriage
Nuptials
Social control
Congregations
Religious denominations
Missions
culture
Highland Scots
HRAF PubDate
1995
Region
Europe
Sub Region
British Isles
Document Type
Book
Evaluation
Creator Type
Ethnologist
Document Rating
5: Excellent Primary Data
Analyst
John Beierle
Field Date
ca. 1970-1988 [p. v]
Coverage Date
not specified
Coverage Place
'Geall,' Isle of Lewis, Scotland
Notes
Susan Parman
Includes index.|Bibliography: p. 167-169
LCCN
89015392
LCSH
Highlands (Scotland)