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Theorist Clifford Geertz´s influence extends far beyond Anthropology. This volume reflects the breadth of his influence, looking at Geertz as a theorist rather than as an anthropologist. To date there has been no impartial, comprehensive, and authoritative work published on this critical figure.

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The Rise and Fall and Rise of Clifford Geertz; J.Alexander & P.Smith PART I: GEERTZ, TEXT AND STRUCTURE Semiotics AND Thick Description; P.Brooks Balinese Cockfight Decoded; P.Smith On Not Doing Systems; J.Errington PART II: GEERTZ, INTERPRETATION AND MEANING Geertzian Irony; G.Warnke Clifford Geertz and the Strong Program; J.Alexander Maximal Interpretation in Clifford Geertz and the Strong Program; I.Reed Thick Description as a Cosmopolitan Practice; P.Lichterman ´Malarial and Diffident´; R.Wagner-Pacifici PART III: GEERTZ AND THE DISCIPLINES Thick Description, Thin History; S.Clark Scientific Cultures; P.Galison Geertz´s Legacy Beyond the Modes of Cultural Analysis of His Time; G.Marcus ´To locate in the tenor of their setting the sources of their spell´; M.Trondman Ritual, Power, and Style; B.Giesen PART IV: GEERTZ, LIFE, AND WORK Clifford Geertz as a Cultural System; D.Apter On Clifford Geertz; R.Darnton The Geertz Effect; M.Norton

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"Interpreting Clifford Geertz is a rich, many-sided, and illuminating collection of essays. This volume views Geertz´s work from different countries and disciplines and explores its ambiguities and inconsistencies, while also emphasizing that much remains to be learned from it." - Peter Burke, Emmanuel College, the University of Cambridge

"The oeuvre of Clifford Geertz is like a rare gem, demanding examination of its endless facets to appreciate its profundity and radiating influence. Congratulations to the editors for doing just that - bringing together the best and most diverse set of minds to assess this monumental figure in twentieth-century intellectual life. The result is an exceptional book, doing full justice to Geertz and furthering his labors." - Neil J. Smelser, University Professor of Sociology Emeritus, University of California, Berkeley

"This is the definitive statement on Geertz.I cannot imagine a more consistently interesting and insightful collection of reflections about Geertz´s corpus, and its position in the meaning-centered social sciences. It will be required reading among cultural sociologists for many years to come." - Ronald N. Jacobs, University at Albany, author of The Space of Opinion

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JEFFREY C. ALEXANDER Professor of Sociology at Yale University, USA.

PHILIP SMITH Associate Professor of Sociology at Yale University, USA.

MATTHEW NORTON PhD Candidate at Yale University, USA.

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