Charles Berlitz, born in 1914, was a descendant of the founder of the Berlitz language schools, a legacy he continued by working for the family business and authoring language learning materials. He was a gifted polyglot from childhood, reportedly speaking eight languages fluently by adolescence due to a unique upbringing. Berlitz also developed language courses using records and tapes. He eventually left the family company in the late 1960s. Beyond his linguistic pursuits, Berlitz became widely known for his writings on paranormal phenomena. He authored numerous books exploring subjects such as Atlantis, the Bermuda Triangle, and ancient astronaut theories, often proposing speculative connections between these topics. His work in this area drew significant criticism for its lack of scientific rigor and alleged fabrication of evidence. Berlitz served in U.S. Army intelligence and passed away in 2003 at the age of 89.

Charles Berlitz hailed from a family deeply involved in language education, being the grandson of Maximilian Berlitz, the founder of the renowned Berlitz Language Schools. His early life was marked by an intense linguistic immersion; by his father's decree, he was spoken to in a different language by each household member, leading him to become fluent in eight languages by his adolescence. This unique upbringing fostered a childhood belief that everyone spoke a distinct language. He contributed to the family's publishing house, which produced language learning tools like phrasebooks and dictionaries, several of which he authored. Berlitz also played a significant role in developing audio-based language courses using records and tapes. He departed from the company in the late 1960s after its sale.

In his later career, Charles Berlitz shifted his focus to writing about paranormal phenomena, gaining considerable public attention. He authored several books proposing the existence and location of Atlantis, notably claiming to have found it undersea in the Bermuda Triangle region. His research into Atlantis involved interpretations of geophysics, psychic studies, historical texts, folklore, and archaeological findings. Berlitz also explored other mysteries, including the Bermuda Triangle and the Philadelphia Experiment, and was an advocate for the ancient astronaut theory, suggesting extraterrestrial visitation to Earth. His work often sought to connect disparate unexplained phenomena into a larger narrative.

Berlitz's assertions regarding phenomena like the Bermuda Triangle and the Philadelphia Experiment faced substantial criticism from scientific and research communities. Critics pointed to inaccuracies in his claims and accused him of overlooking plausible natural explanations in favor of promoting pseudoscientific ideas. Some researchers, like Larry Kusche, alleged that Berlitz fabricated evidence and invented mysteries without factual basis. This reception highlights the contentious nature of his work in the realm of the unexplained, contrasting sharply with his established background in language education.