“There the traveler meets, aghast, sheeted memories of the past…” In the Czech Republic, there is a medieval church long abandoned by the town after an ill-omened roof collapse during a funeral service half a century ago. With decades of decay running… Read More ›
oddities
Where Kittens Wed and Birds Lament: Walter Potter’s Curious World of Taxidermy
The Victorian era’s obsession with the natural world had a tremendous impact on 19th century society, with natural history influencing everything from scholarly pursuits and hobbies to literature, fashion, and interior design. One offshoot of this craze was the rise of taxidermy as… Read More ›
A Terrible Face in the Frigid Dark: The Swiss Tschäggättä
If you found yourself in a remote, snowy town deep in the western Alps last weekend, you might have come face to face with a group of terribly monstrous creatures known as Tschäggättä. Wild, towering figures in leather and fur,… Read More ›