When the residents were exposed as ungrateful villains, the piper once again took up his pipe and began to play. When the piper came to demand his fee, he was met with derision, and to his surprise, the locals even demanded that he be thrown out of the city. The city of Hamelin was saved from the rats, and the city council immediately declared a holiday and held a festive ball. When he reached the water, he walked into it, while still playing his pipe.

When all the rats were gathered, the piper left the city and walked down to the Weser River. As he played, the rats were lured out of their hiding places, to the great surprise of the locals.Ī painting of the Pied Piper on stained glass, 1592 The piper took his pipe and started playing a tune as he strode along the streets of the city. After facing the ridicule of the city’s residents, the city council approved the pact with the odd visitor. Just when the residents of Hamelin despaired of their unsuccessful struggle against the pestilence, a mysterious piper appeared and offered to remove all the rats from the city for a fee. The story takes place in the year 1248, in the city of Hamelin, Germany, during the outbreak of a disease among the city’s rats. Let’s start with The Pied Piper of Hamelin, a common folk tale which dates back to the Middle Ages, and which has been told and retold in many different versions.

In these tumultuous days of corona, as we all endure the weighty rules of social distancing, allow me to recommend that you keep the four following books close by – at best they will provide comfort at worst, they’ll remain sealed on your book shelf, because this article will tell you all you need to know (spoiler alert!).

Contagious book