HistoryExtra podcast History's most mysterious manuscripts
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Jan 28, 2026 Garry J Shaw, journalist and author of Cryptic, explores mysterious manuscripts and the people behind them. He highlights invented languages like Hildegard’s, secret-writing and theatrical ciphers, John Dee’s angelic diaries, and the enduring puzzlement around the Voynich Manuscript. Expect tales of hoaxes, hidden motives, and the spectacle of secrecy.
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Why Manuscripts Captivate
- Manuscripts fascinate because they feel like lost knowledge we should reclaim and they invite deep curiosity.
- Their handwritten nature creates a personal link to past authors and amplifies mystery and allure.
Secrecy As Performance
- Secrecy in manuscripts often performs status rather than hiding information.
- Alchemical ciphers signalled community membership and expertise more than strict concealment.
Hildegard’s Invented Language
- Hildegard of Bingen created an 'unknown language' and alphabet around the 1150s with about a thousand nouns.
- Its only recorded use is in a consecration song, so its purpose remains debated.
