The Unpublished Legends of Virgil

Name: The Unpublished Legends of Virgil
Author: Charles Godfrey Leland

By Charles Godfrey Leland

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Mythology, Legends & Folklore

About This Book

A collection of popular legends that recast a classical poet as a magician and folkwise sage, gathered from oral sources and fortune-tellers. The short tales combine fairy and witch lore, detailed magical ceremonies and incantations, and fragments of Etrusco‑Roman minor mythology, frequently using narrative frames to present spells and occult teachings. Local monuments and landscapes serve as focal points for enchantment, while the central figure acts benevolently in dealings with rulers, common people, and supernatural beings. An introductory essay situates the material within medieval Virgilian tradition and the selections preserve oral variants and popular beliefs seldom found in written records.

About the Author

Charles Godfrey Leland

Charles Godfrey Leland was an American author, folklorist, and humorist, known for his diverse contributions to literature and culture in the 19th century. He is particularly recognized for his works on folklore and the Romani culture, as seen in titles like "The English Gipsies and Their Language" and "Gypsy Sorcery and Fortune Telling." Leland also explored themes of American history and mythology, notably in "Abraham Lincoln and the Abolition of Slavery in the United States." His literary style often blended humor with a deep appreciation for the oral traditions of various cultures, making him a unique figure in American literary heritage.