The Elementary Forms of the Religious Life
The Elementary Forms of the Religious Life is Emile Durkheim's study of religion as a social phenomenon, first published in French in 1912. Using Australian totemism, it argues that a clan's totem stands for society itself; Allen & Unwin published Joseph Swain's translation in London in 1915.
- Editions tracked
- 1
- First UK edition
- George Allen & Unwin, 1915
Which edition do you have?
Editions
- Allen & Unwin1915 Hardback I own The Elementary Forms of the Religious Life, Allen & Unwin 1915 Log in to want this
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Awards, adaptations and setting
In print
- Editions recorded
- 22 on Open Library, 20 in English
- Free to read
- Project Gutenberg (out of copyright in the US)
From Wikidata and Open Library, both CC0. A prize or a new adaptation often lifts demand for the first printing.
More by Émile Durkheim
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Read the guide →Frequently asked questions
How many editions of The Elementary Forms of the Religious Life are there?
We track 1 edition of The Elementary Forms of the Religious Life. Each has its own page with how to identify it.
When was The Elementary Forms of the Religious Life first published?
The Elementary Forms of the Religious Life by Émile Durkheim was first published in 1912.
Can I read The Elementary Forms of the Religious Life for free?
Yes: the text is out of copyright in the United States and free to read on Project Gutenberg. Collectors still pay for the first edition, which is the physical object, not the words.
Where these facts come from
- The Elementary Forms of the Religious Life, Project Gutenberg (gutenberg.org)
- The Elementary Forms of the Religious Life, Wikipedia (en.wikipedia.org)
- The Elementary Forms of the Religious Life editions, Open Library (openlibrary.org)
Every fact on this page was checked against the sources listed. Checked 7 November 2026. Reviewed by Harriet Ellis; read how we check facts.