Back in print, the groundbreaking classic on robber-rebels from "the best known living historian in the world" (The Times [London]). First published in 1969, the now-classic Bandits inspired a whole new field of historical study and brought its author popular acclaim. Bandits transcend the label of criminals; they are robbers and outlaws elevated to the status of avengers and champions of social justice. Some, like Robin Hood, Rob Roy, and Jesse James, are famous throughout the world, the stuff of story and myth. Others, from Balkan haiduks and Indian dacoits to Brazilian congaceiros, are known only to their own countries' people. In his celebrated study of these fascinating figures, now updated with a new introduction, Eric Hobsbawm, "one of the few genuinely great historians of our century," according to the New Republic, spans four hundred years and four continents, setting these folk heroes against the ballads, legends, and films they have inspired. The result is "a dazzling historical squib, fizzing with ideas and strange stories" (The Guardian).
| ||||||||||||||||||
Book Description
Editorial Reviews
From Library Journal
It seems that almost every country has banditsAsome famous, some notAlaced into its folk history. Hobsbawm's 1969 volume delves into the history of bandits and separates the myths from the facts: Were these men social avengers or just plain criminals? The text is supplemented by numerous pictures of Pancho Villa and other noted desperados from several countries. This is one of the few volumes that covers this subject seriously in great detail.
Copyright 2000 Reed Business Information, Inc.
Copyright 2000 Reed Business Information, Inc.
From The New Yorker
An utterly fascinating book.
Product Details
Would you like to update product info or give feedback on images?
|
More About the Author
Discover books, learn about writers, read author blogs, and more.
Customer Reviews
|
Share your thoughts with other customers:
|
||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
A good time telling stories about bandits by the campfire,
By Quickhappy "quickhappy" (Big city, big country) - See all my reviews
This review is from: Bandits, Revised Edition (Paperback)
Not Hobsbawm's deepest work, but a fun one, to be sure. In a quick and lively read, Hobsbawm takes the reader through anecdotes and ballads about "social bandits," a la Robin Hood: bandits with a social conscience, or at least they are remembered that way. The global scale of such banditry is both interesting (seems like peasants everywhere celebrate the guy who steals from the rich to give to the poor), but ultimately thin. Are bandits generalizable from Brazil to China to the Balkans? Hmmm. Having read the original _Bandits_ and the new one, I can say that the revised edition is better, as it includes some nice discussion about the political economy of social banditry, and addresses other criticisms lodged by scholars over the years. Now we see bandits in light of power, class, and politics, which helps to make the book a more serious, though still lightweight, contribution to social theory.
0 of 1 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Lively and illuminative reading,
By
This review is from: Bandits, Revised Edition (Paperback)
The main subject Hobsbawm discusses in this no way 'lightweight' (though pretty short) book is the social role of banditry. The author in my view heavily draws upon the classical perspective of Marx on the ambiguity of peasantry (especially in modern times). Should Hobsbawm've gone that far with generalizations? Definitely, if banditry is to be seen as an element of more general picture.
Also the book set the stage for lively debates on the issue that produced some bulky literature. Personally, I'd prefere some more discussion of the political stances of bandits with more scurpulous focus on speciefic cases. Though, what Hobsbawm wanted to say, he did.
9 of 17 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
High Quality Stuff by Hobsbawm, as Always,
By
Amazon Verified Purchase(What's this?)
This review is from: Bandits, Revised Edition (Paperback)
This is not the last book written by Mr Hobsbawm, but a neccesary and expected reedition of a 60's vintage opus, with some addendas and improvements. As always, high quality is the mark of this reputed scholar. It has been so with every book written by him that I have ever read. Clearly he always has known how to give us, history geeks and scholar alike, crisp writting, deep insight of men and circunstances and the big sociologic picture inside which all get sense, but that never is too far of the little things - if so can be called particular human lives- that give blood to a really good history book. I have never been dissapointed by Mr Hobsbawm and I am sure I never will. Great book, sharp writting, smart understanding.
Share your thoughts with other customers: Create your own review
|
|
What Other Items Do Customers Buy After Viewing This Item?
Tags Customers Associate with This Product(What's this?)Click on a tag to find related items, discussions, and people.
|
Customer Discussions
|
This product's forum
Active discussions in related forums
Search Customer Discussions
|
Related forums
|
