Dear Colleagues,
I have just heard about your decision to terminate the contract of Professor David Graeber. I hear this news with amazement and disbelief.
I know Professor Graeber from several meetings at conferences but in no way am I a close personal friend of his. I am, however, a great admirer of his work.
His contribution to the history and anthropology of Madagascar is of the very best and I say this, bearing in mind that he has been probably the severest critic of my own work.
His writings on anthropological theory are outstanding. I consider him the best anthropological theorist of his generation from anywhere in the world. I have never made such a strong claim for anybody in any reference I have written.
I know nothing about the circumstances which have led you to your decision but I cannot believe that a university such as yours cannot cope with erratic behaviour or that it can afford to lose so extraordinarily talented a colleague,
Yours Sincerely,
Maurice Bloch, B.A. (London) Ph.D. (Cantab) F.B.A.
Professor of Anthropology at the University of London. London School of Economics.
European Professor Elect at the College de France.