Reviews

"Ellen Basso is an anthropologist who presents an unusual collection of myths from the Kalapalo people of central Brazil: a collection which documents and translates tales reflecting the Kalapalo visions of illusion, deception, and survival methods." --Bookwatch "Overall, Basso's In Favor of Deceit makes a major contribution on the oral literature of South American Indians. The original myths are engaging and sometimes hilarious, and her analysis is insightful." --Latin American Research Review "The book is a treasure. . . . Basso's genius lies in her ability to bring forward the very process of storytelling as the element integral to the trickster dynamic." --Asian Folklore Studies "A penetrating work: it will provide the reader with a good understanding of how a particular tribe interprets the world through their stories and their myths, and it presents original data taped and translated by the author. A challenging, important achievement!" --Bookwatch