Summary of The Golden Bough

The Golden Bough is an exploration of pagan and ancient religious beliefs written by Sir James George Frazer. Originally published in 1890, it has become a classic of comparative religion, myth and folklore. The book surveys the religious practices of prehistoric and modern Europeans and other cultures, attempting to establish a common source of primitive religious practices that Frazer hypothesized as originating in sacrifice. It examines the relation between magic and religion, exploring the connection between fertility and vegetation. Frazer's goal in writing the book was to explain why ancient religions survived for so long and became so widespread, and to make the material accessible to a broad audience. In his introduction, Frazer notes that he wants to make an "enquiry into the origin and growth of religion". The original three-volume work has been vastly expanded over the years to twelve volumes in its most recent edition. It is still considered to be a groundbreaking work of comparative religion.