to think fact is sometimes stranger than fiction?

[auntjane2]

I'm going to get all philosophical now.
I have just watched a TV programme about (amongst other things) Joan of Arc. There she was, in fifteenth century France, a time when feudalism and misogyny were completely accepted, and she, a 17 year old peasant girl who might arguably have been delusional, had enormous success until she was betrayed and died a horrible death.
I would argue fact was stranger than fiction in her case. I am sure there are others.
What do other Mumsnetters think? Not just about Joan of Arc, but are there other cases where fact was indeed stranger than fiction?

Half* of mediaeval Europe were off their heads on ergot poisoning, and even when they're not, minds are very suggestible, especially if you don't know enough about science to explain it in other ways. Actually, science is pretty magical anyway. Even when you know how rainbows or snowflakes are formed, they're still magical.

But yes, I think if you read it as a story, rather than growing up with it as history, you would think it was far-fetched.

(I rather enjoyed the programme - about the 100 years war.)

• There may be some exaggeration here.

Kaspar Hauser was an odd one, worth a google.

yes thanks for that Alisvolatpropiis, a very odd tale indeed

Rasputin. The Russian establishment was held psychologically captive by a preposterous and implausible figure! Bizarre.

There are people now who think Boris Johnson is real!

Boris Johnson - never!