Charles Godfrey Leland

Charles Godfrey Leland was an American humorist, folklorist, and journalist best known for his humorous 'Hans Breitmann Ballads' and his influential folkloric studies such as 'Aradia, or the Gospel of the Witches,' which helped shape modern perceptions of Italian witchcraft. Born in Philadelphia, he studied at Princeton and in Europe before pursuing a prolific writing and editing career that spanned poetry, folklore, and linguistic research.