Howard (geography, University of Oxford) considers the significance of race in Dominican society and its manifestations in everyday life. He gives particular attention to the Dominican construction of a "white" identity and the ways it relies on supposed differences with the country's nearest neighbor, Haiti. Drawing on interviews, Howard examines how ideas of skin color and racial identity affect the way Dominicans view themselves and their Haitian neighbors, with emphasis on the political consequences of these attitudes. Annotation c. Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)