2002-08-16 Stage by Stage Guide to a Lost Culture

The structure of the book into chapters that deal with a particular occupation (providing that you would consider 'victim' an occupation) allows for the reader to examine each role that the book deals with in context, although as a separate subject. The actual content of each chapter is not broken up with illustrations - although sprinkled rather liberally with footnotes - but the work is extremely readable and has a fluent and coherent style.

The rituals are described with both a statistical, scientific method and a more creative style that attempts to reconstruct the scene by empathising with the participants.

This book is one of the best collected sources of information on the subject, and despite the wide variety of topics, one of the most detailed. It is a worthwhile purchase for anyone with curiosity in the subject.