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The Voynich Manuscript

Simon Worrall on the lasting enigma of the mysterious Voynich Manuscript held at Yale University. Why has no one been able to decipher it in the century since its "discovery"?

Simon Worrall on the lasting enigma of the mysterious Voynich Manuscript held at Yale University. No one has ever succeeded in deciphering it in the over 100 years since its "discovery". It's written in a language unknown to humans, and the plants and animals in the illustrations don't look like any that exist on earth. So who wrote it? Theories abound, ranging from medieval scholars to a "teenage space alien". Simon Worrall thinks he knows the answer - picking up on some clues about the rare book seller it's named after.
Presenter: Pascale Harter
Producer: Arlene Gregorius
Photo of Voynich manuscript page: Simon Worrall

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11 minutes

Last on

Tue 8 Apr 2014 19:50GMT

Broadcast

  • Tue 8 Apr 2014 19:50GMT