Charles Godfrey Leland is a famous American folklorist and humorist. Born in Philadelphia and educated in Princeton, the author studied and researched much about gypsies and witches. His published works include Etruscan Roman Remains, Aradia, or the Gospel of the Witches, and he has many other books on similar subjects, all of which heavily researched as well as based on his own personal experiences. In 1869 Charles Godfrey Leland traveled Europe to study Gypsies, and well as put time and research into his other fascinations. He wrote numerous books on the Gypsy culture, and published books on ethnography, language and general folklore.
Aradia, or Gospel of the Witches is one of Leland’s most famous published works. Within it, Leland divulges in his studies of the beliefs and rituals of a secretive witchcraft tradition that was previously unnoticed by the public. The novel describes the origins, spells, and rituals of the Italian witchcraft tradition. He uses an insider to describe the practices, even detailing different spells that the “witches” used. His insight to the interesting culture is fascinating, as his inside informant is a part of these practices in her daily life.
However, Leland’s own history of appreciation and adoration for witchcraft may have caused him to take a bias when writing the book. But, the reason that he truly wrote Aradia was for posterity. Leland feared that modernism would diminish and eventually destroy these long-held traditions. His love of history caused him to fervently study and work to have them in writing and in the history books. Aradia leaves its readers with rich content, enlightening anyone who wishes to know about the beliefs of those who study folk magic.
Despite Leland’s slight bias, he is an excellent scholar with much knowledge and research ability. Throughout his life he spent his days with various cultures, learning their histories and myths. For months Leland could be found living amongst Indians, as well as Eskimos and Finnish and Laplander villages. Leland lived his research to the point in that he was disappointed in the lack of deep folk culture in American society.
Leland’s work also covered various other topics, such as human strength and will power. He believed deeply in the power of the human mind and its ability to control and maintain its own wellness. Predating Freud’s work by around 50 years, Leland also published a book called The Poetry and Mystery of Dreams. He wanted to study the imagery and wisdom behind dreams and imagination, revering poets who could understand imagination and imagery with perfect accuracy.
Leland’s work on Gypsy history and culture, as well as the cultures of many other peoples documents important wisdom and folklore. While the age-old cures for headaches, colic, and stomach cramps may be little more than old remedies, learning about such things from the perspective of a creative scholar is fascinating. Not only is one increasing their knowledge of folklore’s past, but they are learning the wisdoms that cultures of long ago fell back on in times of need. Unfortunately, Charles Godfrey Leland is not a common name spoken in many schools and universities of today. This is a sad thought, as his life’s work and research seems as if it could slip through the cracks of time without a rebirth in American academics. Until then, one must settle to read his works firsthand, and marvel at the history that was recorded and the culture that thrived long ago. Thanks to the work and studies of Charles Godfrey Leland.