Johann Dippel – The Real Dr Frankenstein – History Documentary

Frankenstein is a work of fiction – a Gothic horror story begun as a rainy day distraction by an 18 year old English girl – Mary Shelley.

But where did the idea for Frankenstein come from? As the well-read daughter of two philosophers and being all too acquainted with death – she could have made the whole thing up.

Or, had she heard the stories about the fabled German alchemist Johann Konrad Dippel on her travels, a man who claimed to have discovered an elixir of life, but who is also said to have dug up the bodies of the dead for his experiments….and …..to have created a monster.

In this biographical documentary, we explore the life of the mysterious historical figure, Johann Dippel.

He was a theologian, a philosopher, a chiromancer, a chemist, a physician to kings, a perpetual wanderer and author of dozens of books… but was he also the real Doctor Frankenstein?

Finding Out More
There is a lot of incorrect information on the life of Johann Dippel and no English language biography – so for once I have nothing to add to my Amazon Store Page. https://www.amazon.com/shop/professorgraemeyorston

Academic References:
Aynsley, E. E., and W. A. Campbell. Johann Konrad Dippel, 1673–1734. Medical History 6.3 (1962): 281-286.
Kraft, A. (2023). Animal Oil, Wound Balm, Prussian Blue, the Fire and Light Principium and the Philosophers’ Stone Made from Phosphorus: on the 350th Birthday of the Chymist Johann Conrad Dippel (1673-1734). Substantia, 7(2), 137-159.

Music
Richard Wagner – Giants and Hunding Leitmotifs
Jesse Gallacher – Thin places CC0
JS Bach -Toccata and Fugue in Dminor Raphaële Garreau de Labarre CC4.0
Godmode – On the island CC0
GF Handel – Water Music: Alla hornpipe. United States Marine Band, Marine Chamber Orchestra. Public domain
JS Bach – Brandenburg Concerto No. 3 in G major, BWV 1048, Advent Chamber Orchestra. The Al Goldstein collection in the Pandora Music repository at ibiblio.org.CC2.0
Brian Bolger: Dead Forest and Black Mass CC0
Handel Suite No 1. No 2 in F major. Public domain
Mozart String Quartet No. 15 In C Major “Les Dissonances” K465. Quatuor Mosaïques CC0
Schoenberg: String quartet number 2 op. 10, fourth movement, played by the Carmel String Quartet, with soprano Rona Israel-Kolatt CC3.0
Haydn – Sonata in B-flat Major, Hob.XVI:2 Stefano Ligoratti CC3.0
Bach – Cello Suite no. 1 in G major, BWV 1007 – I. Prélude Pablo Casals Public domain
Boccherini – Quintetto op. 41 № 1 in G, G.346 per due violini, alto e due violoncelli. II Andante. Jacques Lochet, violin and virtual instruments CC4.0
Raffaele Calace: Piccola Serenata – Todd Billeci on liuto cantabile CC3.0 User: Todd129
JS Bach BWV 997 – Lute Suite No. 2 in C minor – 4. Gigue – Flute and Harpsichord Alex Murray (flute) and Martha Goldstein (harpsichord)
Mikecolemusic Space Storm CC4.0

Video edited by Manavi Sakunika and produced by Graeme Yorston and Tom Yorston