Regan Ebsworth

Picture yourself in 18th-century London, where gin costs less than bread. Reformers rage, politicians argue. Workers slump in the streets, alleys reek of cheap spirits and signs boast “Drunk for a penny!” But how did a simple drink become the city’s most notorious vice?

No music was playing, yet Strasbourg danced. In July 1518, amid the scorching heat, dozens of people began moving involuntarily, continuously day and night, as if possessed. Within weeks, the frenzy spread to hundreds, with some even losing their lives.