James George Frazer

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.

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.

Sir James George Frazer 1 January 1854 - 7 May 1941) was a Scottish social anthropologist influential in the early stages of the modern studies of mythology and comparative religion. a broad comparative cultural study of mythology and religion by Scottish anthropologist Sir James George Frazer (1854-1941). Aimed at a broad literate audience raised on tales as told in Bulfinch's The Age of Fable, Frazer's book joined the modernists in discussing religion dispassionately as a cultural phenomenon, rather than from within the field of theology itself. Though the final worth of its contribution to anthropology will be newly summed by each generation, its impact on contemporary European literature was unquestionably grand.