In 1951, Henry Myers published "The Utmost Island," a beautiful tale of Leif Erickson's life and voyage to Newfoundland, Canada.

This is the first chapter.

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Music from Fesliyan Studios

You probably don't think of da Vinci as one of the great war-mongers of history, but wait until you hear what he had to promise his employer in order to get a job where--one day, hopefully--he'd be able to build beautiful pieces of art.

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Music by Fesliyan Studios

John Schmidt, or Johann Otto Hoch--or any number of this German man's pseudonyms throughout the late 19th and early 20th centuries--was a male version of the classic Black Widow. He hunted for brides through the classifieds and made off with their worldly savings as soon as the arsenic had done its work.

Please support the podcast through www.Patreon.com/HistoryObscura or www.buymeacoffee.com/historyobscura  -- thank you!

Music by Fesliyan Studios

Having claimed some 25 million lives in England alone, the Black Death is the most infamous pestilence in history. It sparked a million "cures," generations of religious fanatics and eventually, modern scientific germ theory.

Music by Fesliyan Studios

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or at www.patreon.com/historyobscura

Thank you!

"On the fourth day, the patient is either as well as he ever was, or pneumonia and other complications assert their dangerous presence. A harsh cough is a frequently encountered symptom. The patient thus hacks and sprays forth lots of the microbes which spread the infection quickly unless handled with the greatest precaution."

Please support the podcast through www.Patreon.com/HistoryObscura or www.buymeacoffee.com/historyobscura -- thank you!

Music by Fesliyan Studios

Sneeze by Mike Koenig

When European explorers discovered the Polynesian island of Rapa Nui in the 18th century, the island's once-flourishing ecosystem had been ravaged nearly to the point of no return. So, too, had the tiny remaining population of a mysterious tribe.

Please support the podcast (and our rescued kitty Tito during his cancer treatments!) at www.Patreon.com/HistoryObscura, or at www.buymeacoffee.com/historyobscura -- Thank you!

Music by Fesliyan Studios

Hey listeners, I wrote a book! Tune in to hear the first chapter of my science fiction novel :)

If you like, you can buy a full copy at Endless Ink Books!

Here are the links: Paperback             Digital copy

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Thank you!

Music by Fesliyan Studios

With the world seemingly crumbling at our feet, here's a reminder of the times humanity saw it all before--and kept right on kicking and screaming for equality. 

The papacy was not the well-oiled machine you might expect it was in the early Medieval period--in fact, poisonings, wars, coups and in this case, all those things plus a corpse trial could characterize one's rule over the Roman Catholic Church.

Please support the podcast at www.Patreon.com/HistoryObscura, or at www.BuyMeACoffee.com/historyobscura. Thank you so much!

Music by Fesliyan Studios

End sound effects by "Striderjapan"

Sure, there are probably more theories as to the identity of Jack the Ripper than there were victims--but here's a good one!

Please donate to the podcast via www.Patreon.com/HistoryObscura, or www.BuyMeACoffee.com/historyobscura --thank you!

Music by Fesliyan Studios