Historical Mysteries

«Historical Mysteries» by Andrew Lang is a captivating collection of Victorian true crime essays that investigates twelve of history's most perplexing unsolved cases. First published in 1904, this masterwork of historical investigations combines scholarly rigor with gripping storytelling as Lang re-examines notorious mysteries through contemporary 19th-century perspectives.

The book opens with the enigmatic disappearance of James IV of Scotland's body after the Battle of Flodden (1513), applying modern forensic thinking to medieval warfare. Subsequent chapters analyze:

The baffling vanishing of Benjamin Bathurst (1809), a British diplomat who stepped behind an inn and never reappeared

The controversial Kaspar Hauser case, questioning whether this "wild child" was truly a German prince

The suspicious death of Charles Bravo, featuring one of England's most controversial poison trials

Lang's distinctive approach blends 19th century mysteries research with psychological insight, particularly in his revolutionary re-reading of the Gowrie Conspiracy (1600) as a possible case of mistaken identity rather than royal treachery. Unlike typical famous disappearances compilations, Lang frequently disputes popular theories, notably debunking supernatural explanations for the "Dingwall Ghost" through meticulous document analysis.