Welcome to Calm History.

I'm Harris, and this podcast is my quirky mix of education with sedation.

So go ahead, lean back, put up your feet, and allow some calm history to distract and relax your overactive brain squirrels.

In bonus episode number 66, I shared the story about the famous castaway, Alexander Selkirk,

who likely inspired the fictional story

of Robinson Crusoe. In this episode, I'll share this story about another famous castaway,

Philip Ashton, who also may have inspired a fictional story.

Additionally, you'll learn all about the notorious pirate, Ned Lowe,

as well as the famous kidnapping victim, Patty Hurst.

In the near future, I'll stitch together this episode

with my prior episode about Alexander Selkirk

so you can relax with a one-hour silk-plus bonus episode

all about famous castaways.

But for now, the true story of the pirate Ned Lowe and the

castaway, Philip Ashton. In 1725, a dramatic survival story was published with the title, Ashton's Memorial.

The book told the story of a man named Philip Ashton who had escaped from pirates and then lived

as a castaway on an island for about two years.

When this book was initially published back in 1725, many thought it was a tale of fiction.

Why?

Well, in two words, bad timing.

This book was a true story of a real castaway, but it was published six years after a very

popular fictional book about a fake castaway.

...