James George Frazer (1854–1941) was a renowned British ethnographer, scholar of ancient Roman literature and the Old Testament, a prominent representative of classical evolutionism in anthropology, and a pioneer of comparative religion, who made significant contributions to the study of totemism, nature worship, and afterlife beliefs. His major work, The Golden Bough: A Study in Magic and Religion, first published in 1890 in two volumes and expanded to 12 volumes in subsequent editions, is considered a milestone in the history of anthropology and religious studies. In this book, Frazer collected and systematized unique material on ancient and modern religions and folk customs existing in various corners of the globe. Drawing on a vast array of ethnographic and historical data, the author sought to provide a comprehensive picture of the beliefs and rituals of various eras. Translated into many languages, this book brought the author worldwide fame and is of undoubted interest not only to those studying the history of religion and folklore, but also to a wide range of readers.
This edition presents a translation of the abridged version of the book, prepared by the author in 1922.