Since the extensive floods of 1966, inhabitants of Venice's lagoon areas have come to share in, and reflect upon, concerns over pressing environmental problems. Based on ethnographic and archival data, this book offers a study of the Venetian island of Burano that shows how its inhabitants develop their sense of a distinct identity.

Since the extensive floods of 1966, inhabitants of Venice's lagoon areas have come to share in, and reflect upon, concerns over pressing environmental problems. Evidence of damage caused by industrial pollution has contributed to the need to recover a common culture and establish a sense of continuity with 'truly Venetian traditions'. Based on ethnographic and archival data, this in-depth study of the Venetian island of Burano shows how its inhabitants develop their sense of a distinct identity on the basis of their notions of gender, honour and kinship relations, their common memories, their knowledge and love of their environment and their special skills in fishing and lace making.

Foreword
1. Burano, Venice and the Lagoon
2. A Sense of History
3. Religion and Social Change
4. Kinship and Residence
5. Stratification
6. Honour and Shame in Mediterranean Anthropology
7. Burano's Lace-Making: an Honourable Craft
8. Devolution from the Grass-roots: Local Interest against Ideology
Conclusions