Charles Leland American Folklorist - Author of "Gospel of the Witches"

Charles Leland was an American folklorist andIt was also used as a proof that pagan witchcraft
humorist. He traveled extensively across America andsurvivals still existed in Europe. As interest grew in
Europe and became an avid fan of folk linguistics andGospel of the Witches, publishers began to make to
folklore. During his life he published a variety of booksbook widely available and in 1999 a new translation
on folk traditions and on European and Americanwas provided.
linguistics. His most known work was Aradia, orLeland said that he had been informed of the
Gospel of the Witches.presence of the Vangelo in 1886 but it took him 11
The Aradia was created in 1899 and attempts toyears before he was able to access a copy of the
portray the rituals and beliefs of an undergroundmanuscript and even after editing and translation it
witchcraft tradition in Tuscany at the time. Lelandtook another two years to have the book published.
claimed that this religious tradition had been aroundScholars have been skeptical over Leland's claim of
for centuries but had remained unknown until hisfinding the manuscript and many are divided over
discovery in the 1890s. The book later became onewhere he obtained it from. Some of the controversy
of the foundational texts of the Neopagan witchcrafttheories stated that the document was forged by
movements known as Stregheria and Wicca.Leland's informant, with or without his assistance.
This book along with Leland's other works remainOthers claim that the document was forged by
fairly unknown until pagan witchcraft survivals beganLeland himself. Charles Leland however claimed that
to be discussed in the 1950s. The book then receivedthe Vangelo manuscript represented a genuine text
increased attention and was able to play a role in thefrom an undiscovered religion.
history of Gardnerian Wicca as well as its offshoots.