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Nicholas Hart, the Great Sleeper
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Nicholas Hart, the Great Sleeper
Nicholas Hart, known as the Great Sleeper, who slept from 5 to 11 August 1711, though he was suspected of shamming with a view to earning money. Date: 1711
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Media ID 14268349
© Mary Evans Picture Library
1711 Deception Earning Hart Hoping Human Money Nicholas Oddities Sham Sleep Sleeper Sleeping Slept Suspected Suspicious Trick Trickster Paranormal Scam
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Nicholas Hart, the Great Sleeper: An Unusual Episode in 18th Century England's Annals of the Unusual In the annals of human oddities, few stories capture the public's imagination quite like that of Nicholas Hart, the Great Sleeper. This enigmatic figure, who captivated Europe in the early 18th century, is depicted in this evocative print from 1711. Hart, who hailed from London, claimed to have fallen into an inexplicable sleep on August 5, 1711, and remained unconscious until August 11 of that same year. The event, which occurred in the heart of London, drew throngs of curious onlookers, who flocked to witness the extraordinary spectacle. The Great Sleeper's tale, however, was not without its share of controversy. Skeptics, who suspected that Hart was engaged in a cunning deception to earn money, cast doubt on the authenticity of his condition. They argued that he was faking his sleep, and that he was merely hoping to capitalize on the public's fascination with the bizarre. The suspicion of a scam only added to the intrigue surrounding Hart, who remained undeterred by the accusations. Despite the doubts, the Great Sleeper's story continued to spread, fueled by the insatiable human appetite for the unusual and the unexplained. The print above, which captures the essence of this intriguing episode in history, serves as a poignant reminder of the enduring allure of the enigmatic and the inexplicable. Whether Nicholas Hart was a genuine sleeper or a clever trickster, his story remains a fascinating chapter in the annals of human oddities, a testament to the power of the human spirit to defy explanation and to captivate the imagination.
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