Joel Martin Halpern, a social anthropologist, spent a year in the Serbian Village of Orasac to examine the process of social and cultural change in a community that has always felt the influences of foreign cultures. He finds that today the deep roots of native cultural patterns even in the face of Yugoslavia's political and social system. The traditional ways of life are more meaningful to the villagers than Titoism and Communism.

Living with a peasant family he observed first hand the life of the village, which is closely regulated by the yearly agricultural cycle. Here is a colorful picture of the crafts, costumes, folk beliefs, religious and state holidays of the individuals who live in Orasac. Dr. Halpern tells of kin ties and of household structure. He traces the historical background that has shaped village life, pointing out traces of Turkish domination and Western influences during the world wars. Of particular interest is the views of the villages of America today.

Their are autobiographies by the villagers themselves, which disclose their personal attitudes to life in Orasac and towards the intrusions of war and political systems. This is the first community study in English on Yugoslavia and one of the few works of social anthropology available for the whole Balkan area. Is description of a peasant community superficially touched by Communism will be of interest to all readers.