The Golden Bough: Volume 1, the Magic Art and the Evolution of Kings 1

The Golden Bough #1

by James George Frazer

This work by Sir James Frazer (1854-1941) is widely considered to be one of the most important early texts in the fields of psychology and anthropology. At the same time, by applying modern methods of comparative ethnography to the classical world, and revealing the superstition and irrationality beneath the surface of the classical culture which had for so long been a model for Western civilisation, it was extremely controversial. Frazer was greatly influenced by E. B. Tylor's Primitive Culture (also reissued in this series), and by the work of the biblical scholar William Robertson Smith, to whom the first edition is dedicated. The twelve-volume third edition, reissued here, was greatly revised and enlarged, and published between 1911 and 1915; the two-volume first edition (1890) is also available in this series. Volume 1 (1911) explores the belief that kings could harness Nature.

Genres: Anthropology, Religion, Mythology, Social Science, Nonfiction

ebook

First published January 1, 1911

About the author

Sir James George Frazer was a Scottish social anthropologist influential in the early stages of the modern studies of mythology and comparative religion. His most famous work, The Golden Bough (1890), documents and details the similarities among magical and religious beliefs around the globe. Frazer posited that human belief progressed through three stages: primitive magic, replaced by religion, in turn replaced by science.
He was married to the writer & translator Lilly Grove (Lady Frazer)

Reviews

[Philip · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ignoring the textual/scource condescension by the author, this is a great meta-source of much of pre-christian theologies. The Victorian social smugness is subtle in the way it slights the religious, sacred impulses of the source cultures and doesn't really examine the syncretic thievery of the early catholic church.

[Joel · Rating 5 out of 5]

i have three bibles, and this is one of them. his approach to pre-christian religion; almost purely scientific (just a touch of condescension). he covers ancient beliefs from cultures world-wide, details their rituals, the root of the belief or myth, everything.

[Nima Oshary · Rating 5 out of 5]

اگر به جادو و رابطه جادو با دین و اینطور موضوعات علاقه دارید حتما این کتاب رو بخونید .
این کتاب گشت و گذاری است در دنیای جادو و خرافات اقوام و قومیت های مختلف .
نویسنده ابتدا اصول جادو رو بیان میکنه که مبتنی بر دو اصل هست : یکی تشابه و همبستگی کارهای جادویی و دیگری اصل سرایت جادو به دیگران و اشیا هست . سپس مثال های خیلی زیادی از قبایل بدوی نقاط مختلف جهان در این زمینه میاره که واقعا خوندنی هستن و در ضمن به مطالعات زیاد و تحقیقات این نویسنده پی میبرید . .

[Tyas]

I'll go back to this if I'm not so busy. Very interesting as it is, I don't really go along with e-books.

[Kakanier · Rating 2 out of 5]

Ehrlich gesagt, wenn das Buch als Enzyklopädie der historischen pseudo- proto- und religiösen Praktiken ausgelegt gewesen wäre, hätte ich es besser gefunden.

[Lynda · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the most fascinating books I have ever read. Frazer's attitude is easily ignored. Concentrate on the rich information and history.

[Zach · Rating 3 out of 5]

Mr. Frazer is very thorough. A little too thorough for me, with his innumerable examples. His theories are quite interesting, his lists less so.