Anthropology In The Public Arena Historical To Contemporary Contexts

"This detailed survey of the evolution of anthropology in Britian is also a spirited defence of the public as well as professional role of the discipline. The author argues for a broader vision of the value of anthropological knowledge that allows for the creative contributions of popular scientists and literary figures who often capture the public imagination and add much to our knowledge of human social relations. Informed by original archival research and engaging narratives of the larger-than-life personalities of public intellectuals, the author reveals the contributions of neglected but crucial figures such as John Layard, Geoffrey Gorer, Robert Graves, and the the originators of mass observation, today's online repository of anthropological data."--P. [4] of cover.