A. L. Epstein – författare

The Tolai are among the most distinctive of Papua New Guinea's indigenous peoples. For all their success in the pursuit of modernity, the Tolai remain traditional in their attitudes toward death, the cultural elaboration of which colors almost every aspect of their existence. In his new book, A. L. Epstein develops an emotional profile of the Tolai, contending that societies are distinguished as much by the shape of their emotional life as they are by their social arrangements and cultural styles. Epstein describes a wide range of mourning ceremonies and other more and less public occasions. By investigating not only the words that stand for emotions but also the way affect enters into and informs people's conduct, he charts a new course for ethnography that seeks to integrate the study of the emotions into anthropological analysis.

Matupit: Land, Politics, and Change among the Tolai of New Britain provides an in-depth exploration of the intricate interplay between land, politics, and social change in the Matupit community on the Gazelle Peninsula, Papua New Guinea. Based on fieldwork conducted primarily between 1959 and 1961, this study examines the enduring significance of land in the social and political life of the Matupi people, tracing its role as both a source of cohesion and contention. The book contextualizes these dynamics within a broader framework of historical and contemporary changes brought about by external influences, such as colonial administration and economic integration.The author delves into themes such as the Matupi's negotiation of land disputes, their participation in wage labor and subsistence economies, and the evolving patterns of political leadership and community organization. By framing these localized phenomena within the broader forces of societal transformation, the book demonstrates how continuity persists even amid profound change. Central to its analysis is the concept of "involvement," which captures how the Matupi have navigated their interactions with wider societal structures while maintaining a strong sense of identity. This work is not only a meticulous ethnographic account but also a significant contribution to understanding the dynamic interplay of tradition and modernity in post-contact Melanesian societies.This title is part of UC Press's Voices Revived program, which commemorates University of California Press’s mission to seek out and cultivate the brightest minds and give them voice, reach, and impact. Drawing on a backlist dating to 1893, Voices Revived makes high-quality, peer-reviewed scholarship accessible once again using print-on-demand technology. This title was originally published in 1969.