Sir James George Frazer (1854-1941) is rightly regarded as one of the founders of modern anthropology. This volume is the author's own abridgement of his great work, and was first published in 1922. It offers the thesis that man progresses from magic through religious belief to scientific thought.

A comparative study of the beliefs and institutions of mankind.

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 ...

Published originally in two volumes in 1890, this extraordinary study of primitive myth and magic, collected from sources around the world, led Frazer to identify parallel patterns of ritual, symbols and belief across many centuries and many different cultures.

This title contains Frazer's 13-volume set The Golden Bough (his 25-year study of primitive customs, superstitions, magic and myth throughout the world) as well as two further volumes: a biography of J.G. Frazer by Professor Robert Ackerman and Dr Robert Fraser's The Making of the Golden Bough .