Cock Lane and Common-Sense

Cock Lane and Common-Sense is a book by Andrew Lang, first published in 1894. Blending folklore, anthropology, and the late-Victorian fascination with psychical research, Lang examines haunted houses, apparitions, crystal-gazing, second sight, and the notorious Cock Lane ghost. He approaches sensational material with a cool, questioning eye-testing testimony, sifting hoaxes from possibilities, and asking what “common-sense” can really say about supernatural claims. At once skeptical and open-minded, the essays connect centuries-old beliefs with contemporary investigations, showing how traditions, trials, and popular culture shaped modern ideas about the paranormal. For readers interested in the history of spiritualism, ghost lore, and the crossover between folklore studies and early psychology, this collection remains a sharp, entertaining guide to belief and evidence in an age of seances and scientific ambition.