Compadrinazgo: Ritual Kinship in the Philippines

xvi+256 pages with tables, illustrations, maps, graphs, photographs, appendix, bibliography and index. Royal octavo (9 1/4" x 6 1/4") issued in red cloth with gilt lettering to spine. Inscribed by the author to George M Foster. First edition. This work is the first comprehensive investigation of Philippine ritual kinship. It is based on extensive field research in the central Philippines (Bisayas) as utilizes al available published and manuscript sources. Hart begins with a brief history of the develompment of compadrinazgo and its rapid diffusion throughout Latin America and the Philippines. In describing the nature and scope of ritual kinship relationships, he organizes a vast body of material on the rites of compadrinazgo, the qualifications that must be met by ritual kinsmen, and the concomitant responsibilities and privileges. Giving full play to the broad social dimensions of compadrinazgo, Hart relates biological kinship, class structure and social control. The author utilizes a comparative approach throughout his work, but the last two chapters are especially rich in comparative material. The Spaniards brought the god parenthood complex to both Latin America and the Philippines whereupon it was modified by the indigenous cultures of Asia and the New World. Numerous differences exist between Latin American and Filipino compadrinazgo, although they have more in common with each other than either does with the Spanish system from which they derive. In his presentation of descriptive data from Hispanic America and Europe, Hart challenges some of the overly facile generalizations that have characterized the study of compadrinazgo for quite some time. Condition: Inscribed on title, light rubbing to extremities. A very good to near fine copy in a fine jacket.…