BEYOND THE WINDY PLACE

by Maude Oakes ‧ RELEASE DATE: May 24, 1951

An ethnologist's record of her search for and stay with Indians who still practised their ancestor's religion. In Guatemala she hears of the Mam tribe and upon a preliminary investigation decides their way of life will answer her problem of collecting a live account of ancient customs. Her move to Todos Santos is complicated by finding a house and settling in, getting a maid and trying to teach her about sanitation, by eventually ending up an doctor to the whole pueblo. It is her photography which first wins the interest of the naturales. then her friendly concern over her new neighbors' troubles (health, financial, romantic and marital) persuades them to lose their suspicion and distrust. She has her reward as not only her liaison reporter, Don Pancho, but also her own established acceptance in the community bring her the information she wants about the survival of old rituals and ceremonies and feasts. Her status is threatened as epidemics strike and her medications are unable to avert high fatalities, but when she leaves she finds real friends who regret her departure. A personal story of adjustment to a completely different world, this combines well-coordinated reporting with many amusing and interesting incidents.

Pub Date: May 24, 1951

ISBN: 1406754706

Page Count: -

Publisher: Farrar, Straus & Young

Review Posted Online: N/A

Kirkus Reviews Issue: May 1, 1951

Categories: NONFICTION