James Hoare

Trained as a journalist, James has worked as a writer and editor for over a decade, launching three history magazines and one true crime magazine.

He knows a worrying amount about some of the strangest things

Mystery Mummy Believed to be Pharaoh’s Personal Eye Doctor

Jan 24

Jan 24 Mystery Mummy Believed to be Pharaoh’s Personal Eye Doctor

Victorian Children Played Macabre Games to Prepare Themselves for the End

Jan 24

Jan 24 Victorian Children Played Macabre Games to Prepare Themselves for the End

Roman Emperor Claudius and his “Edict” About Public Flatulence

Jan 23

Jan 23 Roman Emperor Claudius and his “Edict” About Public Flatulence

Child Mummy Proves a Modern Illness is Older than we Thought

Jan 23

Jan 23 Child Mummy Proves a Modern Illness is Older than we Thought

Halloween Festival to Return to the Legendary Site of the First Samhain

Jan 22

Jan 22 Halloween Festival to Return to the Legendary Site of the First Samhain

Old Japanese Monks Went on Solitary Boat Voyages to Paradise – Never to Return

Jan 19

Jan 19 Old Japanese Monks Went on Solitary Boat Voyages to Paradise – Never to Return

Ancient Egyptian Carving Found Defaced as Part of a Supernatural Revenge Plot

Jan 19

Jan 19 Ancient Egyptian Carving Found Defaced as Part of a Supernatural Revenge Plot

Underneath Prague’s Streets Lies the Haunting Story of its Former Jewish Population

Jan 18

Jan 18 Underneath Prague’s Streets Lies the Haunting Story of its Former Jewish Population

The Scold’s Bridle – A Cruel Punishment to Keep Women Quiet

Jan 16

Jan 16 The Scold’s Bridle – A Cruel Punishment to Keep Women Quiet

Agatha Christie had Real-Life Experience Investigating True Crime

Jan 15

Jan 15 Agatha Christie had Real-Life Experience Investigating True Crime

When People Thought Blood Transfusions Would Give Them Animal Powers

Jan 15

Jan 15 When People Thought Blood Transfusions Would Give Them Animal Powers

The Exotic World of the Ottoman Harem

Jan 13

Jan 13 The Exotic World of the Ottoman Harem

Exploring the Theory that the Image of Jesus was Based on Cesare Borgia

Jan 12

Jan 12 Exploring the Theory that the Image of Jesus was Based on Cesare Borgia

The People who Live in Chernobyl’s Radioactive Disaster Zone

Jan 9

Jan 9 The People who Live in Chernobyl’s Radioactive Disaster Zone

Crusaders with Nothing to Lose - The Mysterious Order of Leper Knights

Jan 8

Jan 8 Crusaders with Nothing to Lose - The Mysterious Order of Leper Knights

Why Superstitious Thieves Turned Severed Hands Into Candles

Jan 5

Jan 5 Why Superstitious Thieves Turned Severed Hands Into Candles

Why Pub Owners used to Mix Poison into the Drinks they Served

Jan 4

Jan 4 Why Pub Owners used to Mix Poison into the Drinks they Served

The Wild Outback: The Rampage of Australia’s Most Brutal Outlaw Gang

Jan 2

Jan 2 The Wild Outback: The Rampage of Australia’s Most Brutal Outlaw Gang

Iceland’s Witch Trials Took the Lives of 21 Men and Only 1 Woman – Here’s Why

Dec 29

Dec 29 Iceland’s Witch Trials Took the Lives of 21 Men and Only 1 Woman – Here’s Why

Was Mistletoe banned by the Medieval church for being pagan?

Dec 22

Dec 22 Was Mistletoe banned by the Medieval church for being pagan?