Lewis Spence

Born in 1874 and dying in 1955, Lewis Spence was a Scottish journalist, poet, author, folklorist, and occult scholar. He is especially remembered for writing about mythology, ancient religion, folklore, and legendary lost civilizations, and for turning those subjects into books that ordinary readers could enjoy as well as reference.

His work covered a wide range of traditions, including Egyptian myth, Celtic lore, and the broader history of the occult. He was also active in learned circles, serving as a Fellow of the Royal Anthropological Institute and as vice-president of the Scottish Anthropological and Folklore Society.

Beyond his literary and folkloric interests, Spence was involved in Scottish public life and helped found the Scottish National Movement. Today he is best known as a prolific early 20th-century popularizer whose books helped keep mythology and folklore in print for generations of curious readers.