Charles Berlitz (1914–2003) was an American linguist, author, and entrepreneur best known for his series of popular language instruction books. He was born in New York City to a family of German-Jewish immigrants and was raised in a bilingual environment. Berlitz attended the Horace Mann School in New York before earning a bachelor's degree in German from Harvard in 1936.
Berlitz began his career as a language teacher, teaching German, French, Spanish, and Italian. He opened the first Berlitz language school in Providence, Rhode Island, in 1952, which was soon followed by other schools throughout the United States and eventually around the world. He wrote a series of popular language instruction books, which became an international bestseller.
Berlitz was also an accomplished author. He wrote books on a variety of topics, including history, linguistics, and mythology. He wrote several books on the history of the United States and on the history of the American Indians. He also wrote a series of books on the Bermuda Triangle, which were eventually adapted into a movie.
Berlitz was an accomplished polyglot. He was fluent in several languages, including English, German, French, Spanish, Italian, Greek, and Russian. He was also a master of the Japanese language and was considered an expert in the field of linguistics.
Throughout his life, Berlitz was an avid traveler and explorer. He was a founding member of the Explorers Club, a prestigious organization that honors individuals who have made significant contributions to exploration and understanding of the world.
Berlitz was married twice and had four children. He lived in the United States, France, and Switzerland and died in 2003 at the age of 89.
