In 1788, one year before the Reign of Terror began, a writer and would-be mystic was at a dinner party. Jacques Cazotte was a man of standing and was dining with the great and good aristocrats of France, poised to spoil everyone’s appetites.
Category: 18th century
A Preacher and a Horse Walk into a Bar
I don’t know about you, but when I think about Methodism, the first thing that springs to mind is a horse skeleton.
Corpse Candles
Originating in Wales in the 18th and 19th centuries, corpse candles are an omen of death.
Lancaster Priory and the Headless White Lady
Lancaster Priory and the Parish Church of Lancaster are located right next to a medieval castle, on top of a hill overlooking the city.
Going Underground: Berlin Cathedral Crypt
Ever have an existential crisis and hop on a plane to Germany to look at dead monarchs? Same mate, same.
The Grave of Clasped Hands: Love Conquering Death
It’s a twee little statement that love can conquer death, but one that rings romantically true in the adjoining graves of a Dutch Colonel and his aristocratic sweetheart.
The Grave of the Potato King: Friedrich Der Große
Friedrich Der Große's grave is rather unusual, and not just for that of a royal. Why? There are always potatoes nearby.
Mary Toft: The Woman Who Birthed Rabbits
In 1726, when the rest of the country were dealing with periodic harvest failures, Mary Toft sat at home and gave birth to rabbits.