In this Halloween spooktacular episode of Tales of Bedlam, your hosts Knob Twister and Sofa Sitter unravel one of the strangest tales ever penned—“The Young Slave.” Collected by Italian poet Giambattista Basile, this fairy tale delivers immaculate conception via a swallowed rose leaf, a curse born of clumsiness, and a tragic death sealed inside seven magical crystal caskets.
But wait—there’s more! Our hosts go full snark mode as they question the logic (and magic) of fairy tale physics, unpack jealous wives and clueless husbands, and even pitch their own line of nesting doll-inspired caskets for the discerning necromancer.
This story has it all: beauty, bitterness, bewilderment, and a whole lot of bedlam. Perfect for your spooky season lineup or anyone who enjoys their folklore a little unhinged.
We want to know what you think—was the curse justified? Would you swallow a rose leaf for magical powers?
Drop a comment, share your thoughts, or suggest the next strange tale we should tackle below!
Learn more about “The Young Slave” in our blog!
