Victorian folklore and anthropology

Andrew Lang

1844 – 1912

Andrew Lang was a Scottish polymath — poet, novelist, literary critic, and pioneering folklorist — best known for his multi-volume Fairy Books series (1889–1910), which collected folk and fairy tales from around the world. He was a leading figure in the anthropological study of myth, debating with F. Max Müller over whether mythology originated in nature allegory or primitive animism, and contributed studies of psychical research and the supernatural. His comparative approach to folklore and his defense of survivalism in mythology made his work essential reading for anyone investigating the origins of religious and magical belief.