Gypsy Sorcery and Fortune Telling is Charles Godfrey Leland’s study of the magical beliefs, incantations, and folk practices associated with the Romani people of Europe. Drawing on his wide knowledge of folklore, Leland records charms, medical magic, divination, and the lore surrounding witchcraft and the supernatural.
A noted folklorist, Leland gathers a colorful array of anecdotes, spells, and traditions, treating Romani magic as part of the broader history of European folk belief. The book reflects nineteenth-century romantic fascination with the Roma and should be read with awareness of its stereotypes, yet it preserves much folkloric material. For readers interested in magic, divination, and the comparative study of folk religion, Leland’s work remains an engaging and frequently cited source.