Cautionary Tales with Tim Harford

The Truth About Hansel and Gretel (Classic)

34 snips
Oct 31, 2025
Delve into the spine-chilling possibility that Hansel and Gretel could be more than fiction, as Tim Harford investigates claims of true crime origins. Discover how a satirical hoax led readers to believe fabricated evidence linking the tale to real events. Unpack the psychology behind our gullibility and the societal reactions to this deception. Explore the dark historical truths reflected in the beloved fairy tale and ponder important lessons about media credulity and the fine line between fact and fiction.
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ANECDOTE

Classic Hansel And Gretel Tale

  • Tim Harford retells the Grimm tale of Hansel and Gretel as a vivid narrative of abandonment, breadcrumbs, and a witch's gingerbread house.
  • The story culminates with Gretel shoving the witch into an oven and the children's return home.
ANECDOTE

The Fairy-Tale Archaeology Hoax

  • Hans Traxler fictionalised a researcher 'Georg Oseg' who supposedly found real-world traces of Hansel and Gretel in the Spessart woods.
  • The book, The Truth About Hansel and Gretel, was widely believed and sparked tours and media acclaim.
ANECDOTE

Fabricated Archaeology Details

  • 'Oseg' claimed to have radiocarbon-dated a cord on an oak to the 1640s and found charred human remains in oven foundations.
  • The fabricated narrative linked a 1647 trial to characters Hans and Greta and a murdered baker.
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