James George Frazer

About

Scottish anthropologist who made a large impact on the development of mythology and studies of relative faith. His most famous book, The Golden Bough, which he wrote in 1890, documents the similarities among magical and religious beliefs across the globe.

Before Fame

He spent a great deal of time at Trinity College, Cambridge, earning a degree in Classics and Trinity's Title Alpha Fellowship.

Trivia

He was not widely traveled and instead got most of his information through questionnaires that he mailed to missionaries and imperial officials all over the world.

Family Life

He got married to his wife Lily, who died only one day after him.

Associated With

His work was the inspiration for the notable poem "The Waste Land" by T. S. Eliot.