The anti-witch—first published in 2009 under the title Désorceler—is Jeanne Favret-Saada’s third and concluding monograph on witchcraft in the Bocage (West France). This first English edition (translated by anthropologist Matthew Carey) presents a synthesis of ethnographic theory and psychoanalytic revelation, wherein the line between researcher and researched is blurred if not erased. At once classic and state-of-the-art,The anti-witch develops the contours of an anthropology of therapy, while methodologically and epistemologically engaging what it means to be caught in the logic of witchcraft. Through an intimate and provocative sharing of the ethnographic voice with one Mme. Flora—a “dewitcher” and one of Favret-Saada’s interlocutors for two years—The anti-witchdelivers a critical challenge to common anthropologial chestnuts like ‘affect’ and participant observation. Of interest to practioners of psychoanalysis and anthropologists who work on themes of magic and witchcraft, trauma and therapy, religion and belief, this new edition—with a foreword by anthropologist Veena Das—is also certain to bring a whole new generation of scholars into conversation with the work of one of France’s most brilliant anthropologists.

1st Edition Publication Data (French Original): 2009. Désorceler. Paris: Éditions de L’Olivier. ISBN: 978-2879296395

Sung in Arabic and Berber, this collection of lullabies and nursery rhymes from Morocco, Algeria, and Tunisia draws children into a musical journey across North Africa, from the Sahara Desert through the Atlas Mountains to the Mediterranean Sea. In 30 story-songs about everyday life, children learn of the importance of rain, the communal aspects of meals, and the consequences of bad behavior. Lyrics are reproduced in Arabic and translated into English, transcribed in the original script and in Roman characters, and followed by notes on the origin and cultural context of each song. The accompanying CD features traditional songs performed by a group of women, men, and children, and recorded with indigenous acoustic instruments. This uplifting, enchanting production captures the meeting of ancient and modern styles, making it an absolute delight to musical ears.