Jane Harrison examines the festivals of ancient Greek religion to identify the primitive "substratum" of ritual and its persistence in the realm of classical religious observance and literature. In Harrison's preface to this remarkable book, she writes that J. G. Frazer's work had become part and parcel of her "mental furniture" and that of others studying primitive religion. Today, those who write on ancient myth or ritual are bound to say the same about Harrison. Her essential ideas, best developed and most clearly put in the Prolegomena, have never been eclipsed.

Sir Thomas Fairfax, not Oliver Cromwell, was creator and commander of Parliament's New Model Army from 1645 to1650. Although Fairfax emerged as England's most successful commander of the 1640s, this book challenges the orthodoxy that he was purely a military figure, showing how he was not apolitical or disinterested in politics. The book combines narrative and thematic approaches to explore the wider issues of popular allegiance, puritan religion, concepts of honour, image, reputation, memory, gender, literature, and Fairfax's relationship with Cromwell. 'Black Tom' delivers a groundbreaking examination of the transformative experience of the English revolution from the viewpoint of one of its leading, yet most neglected, participants. It is the first modern academic study of Fairfax, making it essential reading for university students as well as historians of the seventeenth century. Its accessible style will appeal to a wider audience of those interested in the civil wars and interregnum more generally.

Jane Harrison examines the festivals of ancient Greek religion to identify the primitive "substratum" of ritual and its persistence in the realm of classical religious observance and literature. In Harrison's preface to this remarkable book, she writes that J. G. Frazer's work had become part and parcel of her "mental furniture" and that of others studying primitive religion. Today, those who write on ancient myth or ritual are bound to say the same about Harrison. Her essential ideas, best developed and most clearly put in the Prolegomena, have never been eclipsed.

Reproduction of the original. The publishing house Megali specialises in reproducing historical works in large print to make reading easier for people with impaired vision.

Prolegomena to the Study of Greek Religion is not, despite the title, an introduction to Greek Religion. Beginners to the subject should look elsewhere, first, and return to this book later. Instead this is a study of the foundations (or alternatively depths) of Greek religion. It is not an easy read, nor intended to be, but it is an undeniable classic and amazing work of scholarship. Most of us are aware of the classical stories of Greek religion, Zeus, the minotaur, wax wings etc. Instead in this book Jane Ellen Harrison focuses on the rituals, mysteries and other features of the older religion that gave birth to these myths. Rather than godly beings consuming ambrosia on top of a mountain these are beliefs of ghosts, demons and potentially vengeful spirits which must be placated, or disaster will occur. As Harrison writes "Great things in literature, Greek plays for example, I most enjoy when behind their bright splendours I see moving darker and older shapes." This work provides insights, showing us the darker, older shapes moving behind classical Greek religion. Once you understand it you will not see the old stories in the same light ever again. About the Publisher Forgotten Books publishes hundreds of thousands of rare and classic books. Find more at www.forgottenbooks.com This book is a reproduction of an important historical work. Forgotten Books uses state-of-the-art technology to digitally reconstruct the work, preserving the original format whilst repairing imperfections present in the aged copy. In rare cases, an imperfection in the original, such as a blemish or missing page, may be replicated in our edition. We do, however, repair the vast majority of imperfections successfully; any imperfections that remain are intentionally left to preserve the state of such historical works.

Prolegomena to the Study of Greek Religion is not, despite the title, an introduction to Greek Religion. Beginners to the subject should look elsewhere, first, and return to this book later. Instead this is a study of the foundations (or alternatively depths) of Greek religion. It is not an easy read, nor intended to be, but it is an undeniable classic and amazing work of scholarship. Most of us are aware of the classical stories of Greek religion, Zeus, the minotaur, wax wings etc. Instead in this book Jane Ellen Harrison focuses on the rituals, mysteries and other features of the older religion that gave birth to these myths. Rather than godly beings consuming ambrosia on top of a mountain these are beliefs of ghosts, demons and potentially vengeful spirits which must be placated, or disaster will occur. As Harrison writes "Great things in literature, Greek plays for example, I most enjoy when behind their bright splendours I see moving darker and older shapes." This work provides insights, showing us the darker, older shapes moving behind classical Greek religion. Once you understand it you will not see the old stories in the same light ever again. About the Publisher Forgotten Books publishes hundreds of thousands of rare and classic books. Find more at www.forgottenbooks.com This book is a reproduction of an important historical work. Forgotten Books uses state-of-the-art technology to digitally reconstruct the work, preserving the original format whilst repairing imperfections present in the aged copy. In rare cases, an imperfection in the original, such as a blemish or missing page, may be replicated in our edition. We do, however, repair the vast majority of imperfections successfully; any imperfections that remain are intentionally left to preserve the state of such historical works.