The Golden Bough: A Study of Magic and Religion
The Golden Bough began in 1890 as a two-volume inquiry into a single puzzle, the rule that the priest of Diana at Nemi could be succeeded only by the man who killed him, and grew by 1915 into twelve volumes. This is the one-volume abridgment that James George Frazer prepared himself in 1922. From the priest-kings of antiquity he moves through sympathetic magic, taboo, the killing of the divine king, the dying and reviving gods Adonis, Attis, Osiris and Dionysus, the corn spirit, scapegoats, the fire festivals of Europe, and the external soul in folktale and custom. Frazer's evolutionary scheme from magic to religion to science is no longer accepted, but his book shaped Eliot, Freud, Joyce, and a century of writing about myth. It is available to read online in your browser on Vinteuil, with the first chapter free.
Start reading right away, without signing up. The complete text is included in Vinteuil Reading, or yours forever with a one-time purchase.
Frequently asked questions about The Golden Bough: A Study of Magic and Religion
The Golden Bough: A Study of Magic and Religion by James George Frazer can be read online on Vinteuil, directly in your browser. The first chapter is free for everyone; the complete book is included in Vinteuil Reading ($4.99/month or $39.99/year) or yours forever for $2.99.
Can I read The Golden Bough: A Study of Magic and Religion online?
Yes. The Golden Bough: A Study of Magic and Religion opens right on this page, in a reader designed for long reading: adjustable text size, light, sepia and dark themes, a clickable table of contents and your place saved when you are signed in. No download or app is needed.
Is The Golden Bough: A Study of Magic and Religion free to read on Vinteuil?
The first chapter of The Golden Bough: A Study of Magic and Religion is free, without an account. To read the whole book, either buy its online reading for $2.99 (£2.99 in the UK) and keep it forever, or subscribe to Vinteuil Reading for $4.99/month (£4.99/month in the UK) or $39.99/year, with 1 month free for new subscribers. The subscription opens every book in the library and can be cancelled at any time.
Is The Golden Bough: A Study of Magic and Religion in the public domain?
Yes. The Golden Bough: A Study of Magic and Religion by James George Frazer is a public-domain work. Vinteuil offers a carefully prepared digital edition made for comfortable reading on screen.
How long does it take to read The Golden Bough: A Study of Magic and Religion?
About 27 h 20 min of reading, at an average reading pace. Your place is saved automatically when you are signed in, so you can read in several sittings and on several devices.
What kind of book is The Golden Bough: A Study of Magic and Religion?
The Golden Bough: A Study of Magic and Religion by James George Frazer is filed under "Religion & Mythology" in the Vinteuil library.
