On Kings

«On Kings» (2017) — a dialogue of modern anthropology masters about the nature of monarchical power. Graeber and Sahlins do not claim to provide a coherent theory, but offer the reader a nuanced, and at times witty analysis of «traditional» varieties of royal authority and its most common archetypical manifestations. The authors base their reflections on an impressive volume of ethnographic data, studies of Amerindian and African peoples — from the monarchies of Africa and Asia to the peoples of Papua New Guinea and America. The edition is illustrated with diagrams, maps, and engravings.