The Grace of Four Moons

"In this unique and fascinating volume, the author calls the realm of her concern 'body art,' which is intended to denote all aesthetic modifications and supplementations to the body. Using rich firsthand interviews and information from modern India, folklorist Shukla (Indiana Univ.) traces the art of the body through the production of saris, bangles, and other goods and commerce and shopping, both of which are the arena of men. From this point, the author interviews individual women on personal adornment and finishes her study with a discussion of body art in the life cycle, with particular reference to weddings. For folklorists and cultural anthropologists, this is a treasure trove of information. For students of religion, it provides the material reference to the system of beliefs. Summing Up: Highly recommended. All levels/libraries."—Choice, September 2008

"Well-researched and well-produced, The Grace of Four Moons is a welcome addition to the scholarly canon for a wide range of academic as well as more popular objectives. 69.1, 2010"—Western Folklore

"For folklorists and cultural anthropologists, this is a treasure trove of information. For students of religion, it provides the material reference to the system of beliefs. . . . Highly recommended.September 2008"—Choice

"The Grace of Four Moons provides a wealth of information about clothing and jewelry as an outlet for women seeking freedom of expression in India, while staying with a traditional framework.June 18, 2008"—India Currents Magazine

"The book is skillfully organized, written in a clear, jargon-free, unpretentious style . . . and it is an outstanding first work by a most promising young scholar. October 15, 2008"—Charles G Zug III, Journal of Folklore Research

"Shukla's book will stand as one of the benchmarks for future material culture scholarship."—Gerald Pocius, author of A Place to Belong

"Pravina Shukla refines folklore scholarship and its study of material culture through her pioneering work on women and their body art."—William Ferris, co-editor of Encyclopedia of Southern Culture