Cock Lane and Common-Sense

Cock Lane and Common-Sense by Andrew Lang delivers a witty, provocative probe into ghosts, wraiths, and the uneasy border between folklore and science. A work of non-fiction that blends folklore, cultural history, and skeptical inquiry, Lang challenges both the Folklore Society and the early psychical researchers for the blind spots in their methods and prejudices. Drawing on historical cases, contemporary reports, and comparative anthropology, Lang argues that phenomena often dismissed as superstition—corpse candles, hauntings, crystal-gazing, fire-walking and reported apparitions—deserve careful attention whether they appear in rural tradition or in first‑hand accounts by “respectable” witnesses. He situates late‑Victorian debates about belief and evidence, exposing inconsistencies in how scholars decide what counts as worthy testimony. Lang’s tone is erudite, ironic, and refreshingly plainspoken: common sense, he contends, should guide investigation as much as specialist theory. Perfect for listeners of history, folklore, and skeptical non-fiction, this audiobook appeals to anyone fascinated by the Victorian mind, the origins of paranormal study, or the enduring human impulse to explain the uncanny. Tune in for a concise, entertaining classic that asks how we decide what to believe.