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Andrew
Lang Born in Selkirk, Scotland (March 31, 1844 – July 20, 1912) was a
prolific Scots man of letters. He was a poet, novelist, and literary
critic, and contributor to anthropology. He now is best known as the
collector of folk and fairy tales.
He
was educated at the Edinburgh Academy, St Andrews University (The
Andrew Lang lectures at St Andrews University are named after him.)
and at
Balliol College, Oxford, where he took a first class in the final
classical schools in 1868, becoming a fellow and subsequently honorary
fellow of Merton College. As a journalist, poet, critic and historian, he
soon made a reputation as one of the ablest and most versatile writers of
the day.
Lang
is now chiefly known for his publications on folklore, mythology, and
religion. The earliest of his publications is Custom and Myth (1884). In
Myth, Ritual and Religion (1887) he explained the "irrational"
elements of mythology as survivals from more primitive forms. Lang's
Making of Religion was heavily influenced by the 18th century idea of the
"noble savage": in it, he maintained the existence of high
spiritual ideas among so-called "savage" races, drawing
parallels with the contemporary interest in occult phenomena in England.
His Blue Fairy Book (1889) was a beautifully produced and illustrated
edition of fairy tales that has become a classic. This was followed by
many other collections of fairy tales, collectively known as Andrew Lang's
Fairy Books. Lang examined the origins of totemism in Social Origins
(1903)
Lang's
was one of the founders of the study of "Psychical Research,"
and his other writings on anthropology include The Book of Dreams and
Ghosts (1897), Magic and Religion (1901) and The Secret of the Totem
(1905).
He
collaborated with S.H. Butcher in a prose translation (1879) of the
Homeric Odyssey, and with E. Myers and Walter Leaf in a prose version
(1883) of the Iliad, both still noted for their archaic but attractive
style. He was a Homeric scholar of conservative views. Other works include
Homer and the Epic (1893); a prose translation of The Homeric Hymns
(1899), with literary and mythological essays in which he draws parallels
between Greek myths and other mythologies; and Homer and his Age (1906).
Lang's
writings on Scottish history are characterised by a scholarly care for
detail, a piquant literary style, and a gift for disentangling complicated
questions. The Mystery of Mary Stuart (1901) was a consideration of the
fresh light thrown on Mary Queen of Scots by the Lennox manuscripts in the
University Library, Cambridge, approving of her and criticizing her
accusers.
He
also wrote monographs on The Portraits and Jewels of Mary Stuart (1906)
and James VI and the Gowrie Mystery (1902). The somewhat unfavourable view
of John Knox presented in his book John Knox and the Reformation (1905)
aroused considerable controversy. He gave new information about the
continental career of the Young Pretender in Pickle the Spy (1897), an
account of Alastair Ruadh MacDonnell, whom he identified with Pickle, a
notorious Hanoverian spy. This was followed by The Companions of Pickle
(1898) and a monograph on Prince Charles Edward (1900). In 1900 he began a
History of Scotland from the Roman occupation. The Valet's Tragedy (1903),
which takes its title from an essay on Dumas's Man in the Iron Mask,
collects twelve papers on historical mysteries, and A Monk of Fife (1896)
is a fictitious narrative purporting to be written by a young Scot in
France in 1429-1431.
Lang's
earliest publication was a volume of metrical experiments, The Ballads and
Lyrics of Old France (1872), and this was followed at intervals by other
volumes of dainty verse, Ballades in Blue China (1880, enlarged edition,
1888), Ballads and Verses Vain (1884), selected by Mr Austin Dobson;
Rhymes à la Mode (1884), Grass of Parnassus (1888), Ban and Arrière Ban
(1894), New Collected Rhymes (1905).
Lang
was active as a journalist in various ways, ranging from sparkling
"leaders" for the Daily News to miscellaneous articles for the
Morning Post, and for many years he was literary editor of Longman's
Magazine; no critic was in more request, whether for occasional articles
and introductions to new editions or as editor of dainty reprints.
He
edited The Poems and Songs of Robert Burns (1896), and was responsible for
the Life and Letters (1897) of JG Lockhart, and The Life, Letters and
Diaries (1890) of Sir Stafford Northcote, 1st Earl of Iddesleigh. Lang
discussed literary subjects with the same humour and acidity that marked
his criticism of fellow folklorists, in Books and Bookmen (1886), Letters
to Dead Authors (1886), Letters on Literature (1889), etc
 Biographies
of writers Biographies
of Poets
Poetry
Music
and Songs
Read
poems by Andrew Lang:
Ode
to Golf Boat Song
The
Battle of Killiecrankie
Culloden
Lost Love
Mist
The Poets Apology
Rob
Roy
(back
to Famous Scots)
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Andrew Lang