The Selected Writings of Andrew Lang

Andrew Lang (1844-1912) had a pivotal role in a number of late nineteenth- and early twentieth-century discourses. He was a founder of the discipline of 'psychical research', with its investigation of spiritualism complementing his ideas on the relationship between religion and magic. Lang was also an outspoken supporter of the move to have English Literature accepted as a field of study in universities, as well as being committed to the promotion of Scottish history. Finally - and most famously - Lang was intrinsic to the revival of interest in folklore.The areas in which Lang's studies overlap have not been fully explored. Although Lang himself tried to bridge the gap between folklore and anthropology on one side and psychical research on the other, the threads of his work have not been drawn together and examined. And, despite his popularity as a writer and a compiler at the time, there are no scholarly editions of Lang's work available.This edition enables a more complete assessment of Lang's work, covering the four areas of study for which he is most associated: myths and magic; literary criticism; Scotland; and folklore. Full scholarly apparatus is included, comprising a general introduction, volume introductions, headnotes, endnotes and an index in the final volume. It also includes previously unpublished works and letters. It will provide a starting point for new research into the unique position Lang held at the centre of the development of literary and cultural modernity.