"Rabbit Rabbit" (Mary Toft, The Woman Who Gave Birth To Rabbits) episode artwork

EPISODE · May 2, 2025 · 1H 30M

"Rabbit Rabbit" (Mary Toft, The Woman Who Gave Birth To Rabbits)

from We Would Be Dead · host We Would Be Dead

In the summer of 1726, In the little Village of Godalming, a 25 year old servant woman claimed to give birth to rabbits. Surgeons, nobles, and even the King believed her at first, but the truth, or a version of it that the public can embrace, always has a way of coming out. For years, history thought they had solved the mystery of "The Rabbit Breeder", but beneath the hoax lies a darker tale of pain, power, and control.This is the true story of monstrous birth — and the woman behind it. This is the story of Mary Toft.   Click To Learn More Mary Toft, Monster and Mason By Karen Harvey University of Glasgow Library — The Curious Case of Mary Toft A digital exhibition exploring the archival material and cultural impact of the Toft hoax. The Public Domain Review — Mary Toft and Her Extraordinary Delivery of Rabbits History Extra — Who Was Mary Toft & How Did Her Rabbit Hoax Capture Georgian Society? Nathaniel St. André — A Short Narrative of an Extraordinary Delivery of Rabbets (1726) The original pamphlet published by one of the royal physicians who believed Mary Toft. 📖 Available via digitized archives or referenced through secondary sources like PDR and Harvey’s article.   WWBD Merch Buy your WWBD swag here!  Join the Conversation       

Episode metadata supplied by the publisher feed · Published May 2, 2025

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"Rabbit Rabbit" (Mary Toft, The Woman Who Gave Birth To Rabbits)

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