A classic study of the beliefs and institutions of mankind, and the progress through magic and religion to scientific thought, The Golden Bough has a unique status in modern anthropology and literature.

First published in 1890, The Golden Bough was eventually issued in a twelve-volume edition (1906-15) which was abridged in 1922 by the author and his wife. That abridgement has never been reconsidered for a modern audience. In it some of the more controversial passages were dropped, including Frazer's daring speculations on the Crucifixion of Christ. For the first time this one-volume edition restores Frazer's bolder theories and sets them within the framework of a valuable introduction and notes. With new, modern packaging this new edition is a valuable classic to add to your bookshelf.

About the Series: For over 100 years Oxford World's Classics has made available the broadest spectrum of literature from around the globe. Each affordable volume reflects Oxford's commitment to scholarship, providing the most accurate text plus a wealth of other valuable features, including expert introductions by leading authorities, voluminous notes to clarify the text, up-to-date bibliographies for further study, and much more.

Sir James George Frazer's monumental study of 'magic and religion' is here presented in its 1922 edition, containing all three volumes. From Rome to Egypt to Polynesia, Frazer covered it all. Corn gods, dying gods, to fertility gods; Frazer explored and examined them all, identifying common themes throughout the world. The implications to Christianity were controversial: Either Christianity was myth like these myths, or else Christianity is true in its claim that all men are made in God's image so that no matter how far they fall from the knowledge of God, revealed or otherwise, they cannot but help to act on their created, religious instincts. These questions and more will arise in the mind of the honest seeker of truth through Frazer's thorough and forthright presentations of facts and analysis.

The Golden Bough attempts to define the shared elements of religious belief. Its thesis is that old religions were fertility cults that revolved around the worship of, and periodic sacrifice of, a sacred king. Published in 1890 it offered a modernist approach to discussing religion. The impact of The Golden Bough on contemporary European literature was substantial.

Sir James George Frazer developed an affinity for classic literature at a young age, which developed into a very real talent through his schooling at Glasgow University and then Trinity College at Cambridge, where he remained as a Classics Fellow for all but one year of his life. After the success of his first novel, Totemism, in 1887, Frazer set out to create what was to become his defining work, The Golden Bough: A Study in Comparative Religion. Originally a two-volume edition, the work expanded into multiple volumes, which in 1922 he edited down to the most widely-read abridged version, which has been reproduced here for this edition. It was initially celebrated as a remarkable study of comparative anthropology, but was later discredited by scientists because Frazer did not follow standard scientific procedures. Nevertheless, it could not be denied that the work was an incredible literary accomplishment. The Golden Bough is an important work which has heavily influenced many modern writers and philosophers. This edition is printed on premium acid-free paper.

Before Joseph Campbell became the world's most famous practitioner of comparative mythology, there was Sir James George Frazer. The Golden Bough was originally published in two volumes in 1890, but Frazer became so enamored of his topic that over the next few decades he expanded the work sixfold, then in 1922 cut it all down to a single thick edition suitable for mass distribution. The thesis on the origins of magic and religion that it elaborates will be long and laborious, Frazer warns readers, but may possess something of the charm of a voyage of discovery, in which we shall visit many strange lands, with strange foreign peoples, and still stranger customs. Chief among those customs--at least as the book is remembered in the popular imagination--is the sacrificial killing of god-kings to ensure bountiful harvests, which Frazer traces through several cultures, including in his elaborations the myths of Adonis, Osiris, and Balder.

This collection of literature attempts to compile many of the classic works that have stood the test of time and offer them at a reduced, affordable price, in an attractive volume so that everyone can enjoy them.

Stories of the Great Flood from Different Civilizations is a book written by James George Frazer that explores the various flood myths and legends from different cultures and civilizations around the world. The book delves into the similarities and differences between these stories, examining their origins, meanings, and cultural significance. Frazer draws from a wide range of sources, including ancient texts, folklore, and oral traditions, to offer a comprehensive and fascinating look at how the Great Flood has been interpreted and retold throughout history. This book is a valuable resource for anyone interested in mythology, comparative religion, or cultural studies.THIS 104 PAGE ARTICLE WAS EXTRACTED FROM THE BOOK: Folklore in the Old Testament Studies in Comparative Religion Legend and Law, by James George Frazer. To purchase the entire book, please order ISBN 0766132382.This scarce antiquarian book is a facsimile reprint of the old original and may contain some imperfections such as library marks and notations. Because we believe this work is culturally important, we have made it available as part of our commitment for protecting, preserving, and promoting the world's literature in affordable, high quality, modern editions, that are true to their original work.

This work has been selected by scholars as being culturally important, and is part of the knowledge base of civilization as we know it.

This work is in the public domain in the United States of America, and possibly other nations. Within the United States, you may freely copy and distribute this work, as no entity (individual or corporate) has a copyright on the body of the work.

Scholars believe, and we concur, that this work is important enough to be preserved, reproduced, and made generally available to the public. We appreciate your support of the preservation process, and thank you for being an important part of keeping this knowledge alive and relevant.

Sir James George Frazer was a Scottish anthropologist. His wide-ranging comparative study of mythology and religion entitled The Golden Bough: A Study in Magic and Religion was published in twelve volumes. It was one of the most influential texts in anthropology and helped to establish anthropology as a real science. This one-volume abridgment is aimed at a large literate audience. The object of this work is to familiarize readers with the cultural habits, taboos, beliefs and, with the ancient origins of the world's myths, rituals, superstitions, and religions. The influence of this master work on contemporary European literature and thought is substantial (Sigmund Freud, C. G Jung, James Joyce, T. S. Eliot, Robert Graves, Joseph Campbell, Stephen King ...).

This book is a must-read for the studies of mythology, religion, or anthropology.

This work has been selected by scholars as being culturally important, and is part of the knowledge base of civilization as we know it.

This work is in the public domain in the United States of America, and possibly other nations. Within the United States, you may freely copy and distribute this work, as no entity (individual or corporate) has a copyright on the body of the work.

Scholars believe, and we concur, that this work is important enough to be preserved, reproduced, and made generally available to the public. We appreciate your support of the preservation process, and thank you for being an important part of keeping this knowledge alive and relevant.

This work has been selected by scholars as being culturally important, and is part of the knowledge base of civilization as we know it.

This work is in the public domain in the United States of America, and possibly other nations. Within the United States, you may freely copy and distribute this work, as no entity (individual or corporate) has a copyright on the body of the work.

Scholars believe, and we concur, that this work is important enough to be preserved, reproduced, and made generally available to the public. We appreciate your support of the preservation process, and thank you for being an important part of keeping this knowledge alive and relevant.

Reproduction of the original: The Golden Bough by James George Frazer

This work has been selected by scholars as being culturally important, and is part of the knowledge base of civilization as we know it.

This work is in the public domain in the United States of America, and possibly other nations. Within the United States, you may freely copy and distribute this work, as no entity (individual or corporate) has a copyright on the body of the work.

Scholars believe, and we concur, that this work is important enough to be preserved, reproduced, and made generally available to the public. We appreciate your support of the preservation process, and thank you for being an important part of keeping this knowledge alive and relevant.

This work has been selected by scholars as being culturally important, and is part of the knowledge base of civilization as we know it.

This work is in the public domain in the United States of America, and possibly other nations. Within the United States, you may freely copy and distribute this work, as no entity (individual or corporate) has a copyright on the body of the work.

Scholars believe, and we concur, that this work is important enough to be preserved, reproduced, and made generally available to the public. We appreciate your support of the preservation process, and thank you for being an important part of keeping this knowledge alive and relevant.

The Golden Bough (The Golden Bough, A Study in Magic and Religion) is a comparative study of mythology and religion published by Scottish anthropologist Sir James George Frazer (1854-1941). The work first appeared in fifteen volumes1 in 1890. The second edition of 1900 included three. The third edition, published from 1911 to 1915, comprised twelve volumes. An abridged edition appeared in 1922 and a thirteenth volume in 1935, entitled Aftermath2. The title is inspired by an episode from canto VI of the Aeneid, where Aeneas and the Sibyl hold out a golden bough to the guardian of the Underworld in order to be admitted into the realm of the dead.

Reproduction of the original: The Golden Bough by James George Frazer

This work has been selected by scholars as being culturally important and is part of the knowledge base of civilization as we know it.

This work is in the public domain in the United States of America, and possibly other nations. Within the United States, you may freely copy and distribute this work, as no entity (individual or corporate) has a copyright on the body of the work.

Scholars believe, and we concur, that this work is important enough to be preserved, reproduced, and made generally available to the public. To ensure a quality reading experience, this work has been proofread and republished using a format that seamlessly blends the original graphical elements with text in an easy-to-read typeface.

We appreciate your support of the preservation process, and thank you for being an important part of keeping this knowledge alive and relevant.

This classic book explores the complex world of religion and magic, delving into the various rituals and practices that have shaped human history. The Golden Bough is an essential read for anyone interested in religion, anthropology, or the occult.

This work has been selected by scholars as being culturally important, and is part of the knowledge base of civilization as we know it.

This work is in the public domain in the United States of America, and possibly other nations. Within the United States, you may freely copy and distribute this work, as no entity (individual or corporate) has a copyright on the body of the work.

Scholars believe, and we concur, that this work is important enough to be preserved, reproduced, and made generally available to the public. We appreciate your support of the preservation process, and thank you for being an important part of keeping this knowledge alive and relevant.

This book is a classic study of religion and mythology by James George Frazer. In it, he explores the human belief in immortality and the various ways in which the dead have been worshipped throughout history. With a global perspective and a focus on ancient cultures, this book provides a rich and thought-provoking analysis of one of the most enduring aspects of human experience.

This work has been selected by scholars as being culturally important, and is part of the knowledge base of civilization as we know it.

This work is in the public domain in the United States of America, and possibly other nations. Within the United States, you may freely copy and distribute this work, as no entity (individual or corporate) has a copyright on the body of the work.

Scholars believe, and we concur, that this work is important enough to be preserved, reproduced, and made generally available to the public. We appreciate your support of the preservation process, and thank you for being an important part of keeping this knowledge alive and relevant.