Before Fake News, There Was The Sun: The Newspaper That Made Millions Selling Moon Cheese Maps

Let the gentle hum of forgotten hoaxes and historical hazards carry you into deep slumber. This 2 hour and 9-minute video is crafted for quiet minds seeking rest — featuring softly spoken, dryly witty narration in soothing British cadence, the warm crackle of a wood-burning fireplace, and two historical tales told with deliberate slowness to ease racing thoughts. From 0:00 to 1:08:00, uncover the Great Moon Hoax of 1835 — when The Sun, a penny newspaper, convinced Londoners the moon teemed with unicorns, bat-winged humans, and sapphire oceans. Learn how astronomer Sir John Herschel’s name was misused, how readers queued for updates, and why even educated Londoners believed lunar civilisations existed. This section avoids sensationalism, instead focusing on repetitive details of typesetting errors, subscription rates, and the mundane mechanics of 19th-century printing — all delivered in a flat, emotionless tone that transforms absurdity into a lullaby. From 1:08:00 to 2:09:00, transition to Medieval Europe with a calm account of why a stolen kiss risked exile or death. Forget romantic ballads — in a world of arranged marriages and strict social hierarchies, a glance between unmarried persons could spark rumours destroying reputations. This part emphasises household routines, repetitive surveillance practices, and the quiet dread of social missteps — narrated with gentle irony and zero dramatic tension, perfect for easing an active mind into rest. Throughout, you’ll hear...