James George Frazer (1854–1941) - famous British ethnographer, researcher of ancient Roman literature and the Old Testament, a prominent representative of classical evolutionism in anthropology, one of the pioneers of comparative religion, who made a huge contribution to the study of totemism, the cult of nature and beliefs in the afterlife life. 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 landmark in the history of anthropology and religious studies. In this book, Frazer collected and systematized unique material on ancient and modern religions, folk customs existing in various parts of the globe. Relying on a huge array of ethnographic and historical data, the author sought to show a holistic picture of the beliefs and rituals of different eras. Translated into many languages, this book brought the author worldwide fame and is of undoubted interest not only for those who study the history of religion and folklore, but also for a wide range of readers.