The Mothers: A Study of the Origins of Sentiments and Institutions (Three Volumes, complete).
London: George Allen & Unwin LTD, 1952. Second Impression. Hardcovers. Thick small quartos. Three volumes. Vol. I: xx + 784 pp; Vol. II: xx + 792pp; Vol. III: xvi + 842pp, [vi adverts]. Original purple cloth with gilt titling to spines; b&w illustrations, extensive bibliography & index to all 3 volumes in Vol. III. Robert Briffault (1876 - 1948) was a French novelist, historian, and social anthropologist. In this massive three volume work, often likened to the studies of Sir James Frazer, he explores the place of women in various cultures throughout the ages, and the mythologies and belief systems that defined their role, with a particular emphasis on sexual custom. Chapters include: In the Beginning was the Word; Traditional Heredity; The Evolution of Motherhood; The Origin Of Love; The Herd and the Family Amongst Animals; The Primitive Human Group; The Motherhood; The Matriarchal Phase in Civilized Societies; Primitive Division oF Labor Between the Sexes; The Institution Of Marriage; Group-Marriage And Sexual Communism; Group Marriage And Sexual Communism (continued) ; Promiscuity And Individual Marriage; Primitive Jealousy And Love; The Selection of a Husband and the Acquisition of A Wife; The Social Evolution of Monogamic Marriage; Tabu; The Totem; The Witch and the Priestess; The Lord of the Women; The Resurrection and the Life; Primitive Cosmic Religion; The Magical Origin of Queens; The Great Mothers; Holy Matrimony; Modesty; Purity; Romance; Romance (continued); and the Mothers. Light rubbing to cloth at all edges and extremities, spines are lightly bumped at ends with a few very tiny tears at spine ends, page edges and endpapers unevenly darkened and spot discoloured, damp mark to fore-edge of Vol II., pages very lightly toned with very minor occasional spots of browning. Still overall a tight, clean better than VG set in VG dust jackets (Light colored dust jackets are darkened at spine, panels unevenly darkened, all edges a bit chafed with some small chips and short closed tears, spine ends and corners have been neatly reinforced from the inside, not clipped. Creasing to upper edge of rear panel Vol II dust jacket only. Jackets now protected by removeable mylar sleeves). A large heavy set, additional shipping will apply at cost. Item #63710
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