Graves etc.

Matthew Keeley · 18 Jan 2008, 23:38 · from 2008-January.txt.gz

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From: matthew.keeley.1 at gmail.com (Matthew Keeley)
Date: Fri, 18 Jan 2008 23:38:39 +0000
Subject: (urth) Graves etc.
In-Reply-To: <39ed084f0801181509s57b6adb3i7890c7f4603daf59 at mail.gmail.com>
References: <003e01c85992$225740e0$b7c95a42 at rclackey.stic.net>
	<39ed084f0801181509s57b6adb3i7890c7f4603daf59 at mail.gmail.com>
Message-ID: <44fb53d10801181538l6c969b9v91cbe0dc0180731d at mail.gmail.com>

> I do recommend Graves's book on the Greek myths -- very handy for the
> etymology of names.  But it sounds like Frazer's The Golden Bough is
> probably a better source Wolfe's reception of comparative mythology
> and religion.

Not that Frazer is much closer to Wolfe's views - he was very critical
of Christianity. Parts of the Golden Bough are direct attempts to
undermine Christian beliefs. Alas, I doubt any of us will read the
whole thing - it's about thirteen volumes, and the only
readily-available print version is the Oxford University Press
abridgment (which is still 800 pages long). Frazer's own two-volume
abridgment is out-of-print and apparently doesn't have some of the
most interesting and controversial material. The abridgment is
available online at Project Gutenberg though:

http://www.gutenberg.org/etext/3623

Do check it out. Unlike The White Goddess, Frazer is fun to read.

-Matt

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