History Obscura

Happy Halloween! Here's an oldie but a goody, a scary Halloween story by Robert Louis Stevenson: The Body Snatcher...

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More from our favourite historical fiction this week! It's one divorce, one wedding and a funeral. 

With the passing of QEII, many questions are at the forefront of our minds. What now? How much are we paying the monarchy, as British citizens or members of the Commonwealth? What is the meaning of all this pomp? And, just what is the delightfully controversial past of the first two King Charles?

NDEs are not a new phenomenon, it seems! Spying a light at the end of a tunnel, masses of dead headed for heaven and hell, and floating above your own dead body has been documented for thousands of years in the stories of philosphers, artists, and doctors.

Taken from the fine work of Rosemary Neering in "The Canadian Housewife, An Affectionate History," this episode of History Obscura delves into the depression, physical illnesses and endless cleaning of infestations that plagued the early settler women of Canada.

The new Christian religion clashes with ancient Norse gods during Leif Ericson's expedition to Vinland.

Thor and Odin's world are on the precipice of Ragnarok as the Viking ship inches its way closer to Greenland.

Contemporary stories from 18th-century London, straight from John O'London's Stories of London! 

You'll remember Christopher Columbus' glowing letter to the Spanish monarchs in 1493, bragging of his discoveries. Would it shock you to learn his legacy and the exploits of those who came afterwards were more evil than good? No? Well, just in case, here's Bartolomeo de las Casas to convince you. This episode contains some gruesome scenes.

Nellie Bly's 12th-14th chapters of 10 Days in a Mad House describe bitter cold and brutal treatment at the hands of the asylum's sorely underqualified nurses. 

Brain surgery is not the modern miracle you may think it is! Tune in for all kinds of evidence to the contrary, including plenty of ancient trepanation. 

Is the Panacea Society really holding the true Southcott Box, or was that disappointing container opened by Harry Price in the 1920s the real thing? And why didn't the world end in 2004?

Haunted dolls, masks, detailed Greek sculpture, medieval paintings and corpses all play large roles in the history of the Uncanny Valley. This episode covers Lilly from Zak Bagans' The Haunted Museum, Springheel'd Jack, Moskvin's Russian Dolls, and more.

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In 1880s New York, the last thing any woman wanted was to be committed to the infamous lunatic asylum at Blackwell's Island. Except for Nelly Bly, investigative reporter for Joseph Pulitzer's New York World. In this episode, we continue Bly's personal account of her time as an inmate within those walls. 

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The Falcon Lake Incident and the Shag Harbour UFO are two unforgettable stories from another historical year full of unidentifiable craft sightings. The UFOs of 1967 came thick and fast, and left good evidence in their wake.

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Witness the ducking of a witch from the front row of the assembled villagers! This episode is all witch, all the time. Dive in (but try not to float.)

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The two famous friends, Houdini and Conan Doyle, had a bad falling out over a seance gone wrong.

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Did a bunch of meddling kids really fool the great Harry Price, ghost hunter?

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I'm back at the Jack the Ripper case for a fresh, modern spin on things!

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Hoaxer? Innocent victim? Nobody knows for sure who the mysterious Kaspar Hauser really was, but his story of neglect and intrigue still fascinates all who hear it. 

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Happy Halloween, All Souls Day, and Day of the Dead!

Anatoly Moskvin was a Russian historian and cemetery expert with a very unique collection of dolls...

The Victorians are fascinating for many reasons, not least their fascination with death. 

Whether or not you've been looking forward to a bountiful meal this weekend, join me for a few of the finer points on Canadian Thanksgiving. 

The Victorians were so keen on a good ghost story that they peppered their newspapers thoroughly with them! 

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This week's bedtime story spans a fantastic two centuries of extraterrestrial history in Japan. 

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More than 2300 years ago, a man named Kalanos poured fuel over his body, stood voluntarily upon a pyre, and set himself aflame. The last words he spoke to his grief-stricken companion were, "We shall meet in Babylon." In conclusion, rumours of Alexander the Great's death may have been exaggerated. 

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Edgar Cayce could solve any mystery, so long as he could sleep on it. 

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Edgar Mitchell had an off-planet epiphany that changed his life.

Anyone fancy a meat pie?

A lot can happen when gold-rush Australians go exploring.

Can you guess the extra-special ingredient? No, it's not love...

There's plague about in the estate. Whilst I avoid the deadly miasma, here's a lovely prerecorded chapter of The Utmost Island. 

Would you believe reports of so-called "little animals" living in your drinking water?

This is the story of a very lucky, very intelligent, and sometimes quite foolish Renaissance Man.

Everyone knows about his hard-headed, serial-marrying son, but what of the founder of the dynasty himself?

Here are a few brief kitty tales to soothe us all to sleep.

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The War of the Roses and the Step-Tudor who was a Mad King.

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This epic tale begins in Wales, some 800 years ago...

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This is the story of our dearly departed mutual cousin...or, aunt?

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Doctor Jules Cotard was the first physician to research and describe a specific type of psychosis in which patients believe they do not exist, or, that they are dead. These are collected stories of various patients from the last 200 years.

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RIP Prince Philip, consort of Queen Elizabeth of the United Kingdom, once 6th in line to the throne of Greece and Denmark!

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Once upon a time, one Patrick Maude was executed for murder. But first, he had no end of blame to throw about with his final speech.

This episode features an execution and is rife with the word "Damned!"

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Canadian soldier Ralph Niessen and his brother were captured by  German soldiers in occupied Holland near the end of the war and imprisoned together.

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