Lore Legends 25: Cursed Literature
Apr 15, 2024
Explore the deadly allure of cursed books and haunted tomes in this episode. From arsenic-laden green pigments to the mysterious Devil's Bible, uncover the dark secrets that lie within literature. Plus, learn about Mint Mobile's affordable wireless plans and the enigmatic Vatican Secret Archives.
AI Snips
Chapters
Transcript
Episode notes
Books Shape Identity And Power
- Books shape identity and transmit knowledge across life stages from childhood to adulthood.
- Aaron Mahnke frames books as powerful cultural tools that can also inspire fear when knowledge is suppressed.
The Green That Made People Sick
- Carl Wilhelm Scheele (Schiel) invented a long-lasting green pigment using arsenic during the 1770s in Sweden.
- The pigment became popular but caused serious health problems like ulcers, convulsions, miscarriages, and cancer.
The Deadliest Book: Wallpaper Samples Inside
- Robert C. Kedzie published Shadows from the Walls of Death to expose arsenic-laced wallpaper dangers and put real samples inside his book.
- Those bound wallpaper fragments remain toxic because arsenic cannot be destroyed, only transformed.