David Hicks is Professor of Anthropology at Stony Brook University and Life Member of Clare College, University of Cambridge. He holds Doctor of Philosophy degrees from the University of Oxford and the University of London. His scholarly specializations lie in the fields of oral literature, ritual, politics, and Timorese studies. A noted and prolific scholar of East Timor, Professor Hicks has carried out field research there since 1966 and remains an active contributor to the field today.