James George Frazer Books

The Teachings of the Egyptian Mysteries Reached Other Lands Many Centuries Before It Reached Athens..."

Focusing on the scarcity and rising costs of early 20th-century literature, this initiative aims to republish classic works in modern, affordable editions. Each book retains the original text and artwork, preserving the historical essence while making them accessible to contemporary readers.

Exploring the intersections of religion, magic, folklore, and mythology, this classic work by J.G. Frazer delves into the beliefs and practices that shape human culture. Originally published in 1913, it offers valuable insights into ancient traditions and their relevance. Obscure Press aims to make such rare texts accessible by republishing them in high-quality, modern editions while preserving the original content and illustrations. This effort highlights the enduring significance of these foundational ideas in understanding human society.

This study explores the universal beliefs in magic across ancient cultures, highlighting practices such as nature worship and the myths surrounding dying gods. It delves into the significance of divine sacrifice, particularly the role of kings in these rituals. By examining these themes, the work offers valuable insights into the anthropological understanding of myth and magic throughout history.

A classic study of the beliefs and institutions of mankind, and the progress through magic and religion to scientific thought, The Golden Bough has a unique status in modern anthropology and literature. First published in 1890, The Golden Bough was eventually issued in a twelve-volume edition (1906-15) which was abridged in 1922 by the author and his wife. That abridgement has never been reconsidered for a modern audience. In it some of the more controversial passages were dropped, including Frazer's daring speculations on the Crucifixion of Christ. For the first time this one-volume edition restores Frazer's bolder theories and sets them within the framework of a valuable introduction and notes. A seminal work of modern anthropology, The Golden Bough also influenced many twentieth-century writers, including D H Lawrence, T S Eliot, and Wyndham Lewis. Its discussion of magical types, the sacrificial killing of kings, the dying god, and the scapegoat is given fresh pertinence in this new edition.

Bronislaw Malinowski's pathbreaking Argonauts of the Western Pacific is at once a detailed account of exchange in the Melanesian islands and a manifesto of a modernist anthropology. Malinowski argued that the goal of which the ethnographer should never lose sight is 'to grasp the native's point of view, his relation to life, to realise his vision of his world.' Through vivid evocations of Kula life, including the building and launching of canoes, fishing expeditions and the role of myth and magic amongst the Kula people, Malinowski brilliantly describes an inter-island system of exchange - from gifts from father to son to swapping fish for yams - around which an entire community revolves. A classic of anthropology that did much to establish the primacy of painstaking fieldwork over the earlier anecdotal reports of travel writers, journalists and missionaries, it is a compelling insight into a world now largely lost from view. With a new foreword by Adam Kuper.

This Elibron Classics title is a reprint of the original edition published by Macmillan and Co., Ltd. in London, 1922.

Focusing on the comparative analysis of mythology and religion, this work by Sir James George Frazer explores various cultural beliefs and practices. Originally published in multiple volumes from 1890 onward, it examines themes of magic, ritual, and the evolution of religious thought. The extensive research spans numerous cultures, providing insights into the commonalities and differences in human belief systems. The later editions further refine and expand upon the initial findings, making it a significant contribution to anthropology and the study of religion.