Twins in the World: The Legends They Inspire and the Lives They Lead

In this compelling narrative, Alessandra Piontelli explores the different roles that twins play in societies around the world. In her travels throughout Africa, Asia, South America, and the Pacific rim, Piontelli has observed how some cultures deify twins while other cultures attribute evil spirits to them and others outright destroy all multiple siblings. Twins in the World mixes anthropology, ethnography, and religious studies to show the most critical aspect of comparative world culture--how a society cares for its young--through the lens of twins, who seem to hold a special place in all cultures.