The prolific writer said to have been killed by his own books

Al-Jahiz (c. 776–869) was one of the most prolific prose authors of early Arabic literature, writing on zoology, rhetoric, theology and society, including his sprawling "Book of Animals." He lived into his nineties, and a long-standing tradition holds that he died when a stack of his own bound volumes toppled over and crushed him.

One of many fact-checked wonders across eight traditions at The Spring of Wisdom.