The Golden Bough

About the Author

Sir James George Frazer

Sir James George Frazer (1854-1941) was a pioneering Scottish social anthropologist, folklorist, and classical scholar whose work profoundly influenced the study of mythology, religion, literature, and anthropology. Born in Glasgow to a wealthy pharmaceutical family, Frazer received an exceptional education at Glasgow University (where he studied classics, logic, and metaphysics) before continuing at Trinity College, Cambridge, where he would spend most of his academic career. His intellectual development was shaped by the evolutionary theories of Charles Darwin and Herbert Spencer, as well as the comparative mythology approach of Max Müller. Frazer's academic reputation was initially established through his work on Pausanias, culminating in his six-volume commentary on that ancient Greek writer's 'Description of Greece' (1898). However, it was 'The Golden Bough,' first published in two volumes in 1890 and eventually expanded to twelve volumes in its third edition (1906-1915), that secured his place as one of the most influential thinkers of his era. This monumental comparative study of mythology and religion revolutionized understanding of primitive belief systems by identifying common patterns across disparate cultures. Although Frazer conducted no fieldwork himself—relying instead on reports from missionaries, travelers, and colonial officials—his genius lay in synthesizing this vast collection of data into compelling theoretical frameworks. His other major works include 'Totemism and Exogamy' (1910), 'Folk-lore in the Old Testament' (1918), and numerous volumes on various aspects of primitive religion and mythology. Frazer's scholarly approach was characterized by an encyclopedic breadth of knowledge, meticulous documentation, and a lucid, engaging prose style that made complex anthropological ideas accessible to non-specialists. This accessibility helped his work transcend academic boundaries and influence fields ranging from psychoanalysis (particularly impacting Freud) to modernist literature, with writers like T.S. Eliot, James Joyce, and W.B. Yeats drawing inspiration from 'The Golden Bough.' Despite his scholarly achievements, Frazer lived a relatively quiet life. In 1896, he married Lilly Grove (née Frazer), a French writer who became his lifelong companion and collaborator, assisting with translations and supporting his research. Their childless marriage allowed both to focus entirely on intellectual pursuits. Frazer's contributions were recognized with numerous honors, including knighthood in 1914, the Order of Merit in 1925, and fellowship in the Royal Society. Though subsequent anthropological scholarship has challenged many of Frazer's specific interpretations and evolutionary assumptions, his comparative method, emphasis on cross-cultural patterns, and integration of anthropological and classical studies continue to influence scholarship. He died in Cambridge at age 87, leaving behind a body of work that helped establish anthropology as a serious discipline and permanently altered how Western culture understands the relationship between primitive belief systems and modern thought.