'… a welcome and significant addition to Cambridge University's excellent series on social and cultural anthropology … The book is a great contribution not only to studies on pastoralist Bedouin societies but to contemporary social anthropology at large. … one of the most insightful anthropological readings on Bedouin society, exhibiting both intimate knowledge and superb analysis.' Ethnos

• List of illustrations; Foreword Jack Goody; Preface; Introduction Emanuel Marx; 1. The Sanusi order and the Bedouin; 2. The Bedouin way of life; 3. The tied and the free; 4. Aspects of the feud; 5. Proliferation of segments; 6. The power of shaikhs; 7. Debt relationships; 8. Family and marriage; 9. Bridewealth; 10. The status of women; Notes; Bibliography; Index.

'… a welcome and significant addition to Cambridge University's excellent series on social and cultural anthropology … The book is a great contribution not only to studies on pastoralist Bedouin societies but to contemporary social anthropology at large. … one of the most insightful anthropological readings on Bedouin society, exhibiting both intimate knowledge and superb analysis.' Ethnos

• List of illustrations; Foreword Jack Goody; Preface; Introduction Emanuel Marx; 1. The Sanusi order and the Bedouin; 2. The Bedouin way of life; 3. The tied and the free; 4. Aspects of the feud; 5. Proliferation of segments; 6. The power of shaikhs; 7. Debt relationships; 8. Family and marriage; 9. Bridewealth; 10. The status of women; Notes; Bibliography; Index.

'… a welcome and significant addition to Cambridge University's excellent series on social and cultural anthropology … The book is a great contribution not only to studies on pastoralist Bedouin societies but to contemporary social anthropology at large. … one of the most insightful anthropological readings on Bedouin society, exhibiting both intimate knowledge and superb analysis.' Ethnos

• List of illustrations; Foreword Jack Goody; Preface; Introduction Emanuel Marx; 1. The Sanusi order and the Bedouin; 2. The Bedouin way of life; 3. The tied and the free; 4. Aspects of the feud; 5. Proliferation of segments; 6. The power of shaikhs; 7. Debt relationships; 8. Family and marriage; 9. Bridewealth; 10. The status of women; Notes; Bibliography; Index.