The Golden Bough
- First published
- 1890
- Reading level
- Fairly demanding
- Price
- Free
About the book
"The Golden Bough: A Study of Magic and Religion" by James George Frazer is a comparative study first published in 1890. Frazer explores mythology and religion across cultures, examining fertility rites, human sacrifice, dying gods, and sacred kingship. His controversial thesis traces humanity's intellectual evolution from magic through religion to science, centered on ancient fertility cults and seasonal rituals. Drawing from the priest-kings of Lake Nemi to global mythologies, this sweeping work scandalized Victorian Britain and profoundly influenced twentieth-century literature and thought.
- Religion
- Magic
- Superstition
- Mythology
Updated September 2026. Public domain in the USA. Text and summary from Project Gutenberg eBook #3623. The Golden Bough on Wikipedia.
