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Theorizing Fieldwork in the Humanities pp 213–234Cite as

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Accidental Histories: Fieldwork Among the Maroons of Jamaica

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Abstract

This chapter examines what happens when a scholar trained in literary and cultural criticism confronts indigenous people whose histories fail to coincide with documentary accounts. The experience of organizing an annual conference with the Maroons of Charles Town, Jamaica, provides an occasion for the author to ponder the limits of documentary history and the value of vernacular and popular memories of Maroon traditions. Mixing personal observation with scholarly reflection, the chapter shows how fieldwork combines immersive perception with ambient knowledge to yield a synoptic view of Maroons today.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of English, University of Colorado at Boulder, Boulder, USA

    Paul Youngquist

Authors
  1. Paul Youngquist
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Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department of English, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA

    Shalini Puri

  2. Department of Comparative Literature Cornell University, Ithaca, New York, USA

    Debra A. Castillo

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© 2016 The Author(s)

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Youngquist, P. (2016). Accidental Histories: Fieldwork Among the Maroons of Jamaica. In: Puri, S., Castillo, D. (eds) Theorizing Fieldwork in the Humanities. Palgrave Macmillan, New York. https://doi.org/10.1057/978-1-349-92834-7_12

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