- Hardcover: 288 pages
- Publisher: Berg Publishers; illustrated edition edition (9 Oct 2003)
- Language English
- ISBN-10: 1859737323
- ISBN-13: 978-1859737323
- Product Dimensions: 23.8 x 21.8 x 3 cm
- Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (1 customer review)
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Amazon Bestsellers Rank:
290,978 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #88 in Books > Society, Politics & Philosophy > Social Sciences > Cultural Studies > Fashion
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Review
'A fascinating look at this great Indian traditional wear told through the voices of women who love and live with it on a daily basis' G. Chadha, director of Bend It Like Beckham 'Intellectually compelling and theoretically sophisticated, The Sari will be of great interest to scholars in many disciplines - from anthropology to women's studies. It is also an absolutely fascinating read, which will appeal to anyone with an interest in India.' Valerie Steele, author of The Corset: A Cultural History 'A fascinating and original insight into one of the most enigmatic garments in the world' South Asian Studies Journal 'This book offers rare and intimate insights into the social life of the sari which becomes a metaphor and tool for understanding the biographies of Indian women.' Emma Tarlo, author of Clothing Matters: Dress and Identity in India 'Provides a visual feast and an easy introduction to the subject.' Fashion Theory 'The strength and charm of this book is the ease with which it distils in an extremely readable, vivacious, and often witty manner the ethnographic perspectives set within a broader context of social, political, and religious changes.' Nira Wickramasinghe, The Journal of the Royal Anthropological Institute (Vol. 12, No. 3, Sept. 2006) "This amazing book shows a fascinating aspect of the lives of so many women of and from the subcontinent. It's a worthwhile and compelling read and encourages one to consider the wearer rather than the worn." mostlyasianfood.com
Emma Tarlo, author of Clothing Matters: Dress and Identity in India
'Mukulika Banerjee and Daniel Miller offer rare and intimate insights into the social life of the sari.'
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
13 of 14 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
This book is not just about the sari, its origins and regional varieties - it is far more than that. It is a window into the culture of the women of India, Pakistan and Bengal. There are amazing insights, which I as a westerner hadn't even thought of and customs I didn't know existed. The photography is fantastic and the sari is seen as a living element, not just an item of clothing. If you want a book about how to put on a sari, with close up shots, this isn't for you, but I bought this book with the former goal in mind and found myself fascinated by the sociology element. The closest I will ever get to India is Rusholme's Curry Mile in Manchester and sadly there aren't very many saris on view. There are reams of notes and references at the back, making it quite a scholarly effort and with the biographies, it is a perfect mixture.The book has inspired me to buy my very first sari and I am now wrestling with it's elegant folds in a most inelegant way. Buy this book, it's an inspiration! We want "The Sari Vol 2"
Most Helpful Customer Reviews on Amazon.com (beta)
Amazon.com:
8 reviews
21 of 21 people found the following review helpful
A Lovely Book
8 Feb 2006
Format:Hardcover
I own about 450 books on India and Indian culture, so when I say this is one of my 2-3 favorite books on India (the other probably being Meeting God by Stephen Huyler), it truly says something about this book.
The Sari is beautiful to look at, and fascinating to read. It draws us into women's lives in a way that is enlightening, personal, and does not play to Western preconceptions.
A cross between social antropology and coffee-table book, this book appeals on many levels. It has a ring of truth, drawn from hundreds of interviews with Indian women about their lives and their attitude towards the clothes they wear. It sets these individual attitudes squarely in the cultural milieu in which they belong.
I hope that it gets the wide readership it deserves.
The Sari is beautiful to look at, and fascinating to read. It draws us into women's lives in a way that is enlightening, personal, and does not play to Western preconceptions.
A cross between social antropology and coffee-table book, this book appeals on many levels. It has a ring of truth, drawn from hundreds of interviews with Indian women about their lives and their attitude towards the clothes they wear. It sets these individual attitudes squarely in the cultural milieu in which they belong.
I hope that it gets the wide readership it deserves.
14 of 14 people found the following review helpful
Amazing amount of detail, beautifully illustrated
7 July 2005
Format:Hardcover
I have had a deep interest in Indian and Pakistani dress for four or five years. I own and wear several saris and shalwar kamiz, but didn't know much about their history or the nuances of dress; this book changed that for me. I was looking for a well illustrated coffee table book, but got that and much more! I could barely put it down from the moment it was delivered. Although there is a lot of detail, it is written in a way that is interesting and easy to read. I highly reccomend it!
13 of 13 people found the following review helpful
a feast for the eyes and a fount of information!
15 Sep 2004
Format:Hardcover
Mukulika Bannerjee's book, while easily accessible to Westerners with little to no knowledge of Indian clothing customs, also goes in-depth about the many levels of nuance attached to a deceptively simple 6-yard piece of unsewn cloth. She delineates cultural sentiments about what colors and styles are appropriate for unmarried girls, the new bride, middle-aged mothers, and widows. Sections include explanations of the many fabric styles, from ethnic handloom cottons and silks to garish polyester synthetics, along with discussions on what sort of woman is likely to wear each, and for what occasion. Fascinating real-life vignettes feature all sorts of sari wearers, from Hindu to Muslim and from the poorest villager to Bollywood stars and political leaders like Indira Gandhi. The many stunning color photographs make this book a real delight to the eyes as well as a great source of information on a topic rarely covered in the West.
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