 Based on the true story of Mary Willcocks Baker, who appeared in  1817 in Gloucestershire, England, speaking an unknown language and  behaving strangely. Through signs and gestures she claimed to be a  princess from an island called Javasu, who had been kidnapped by  pirates and escaped. For several months, "Princess Caraboo" was a  national figure and was welcomed into high society. Her story was  revealed as a hoax after a local woman saw her face in the newspaper  and recognized her as a former tenant. After being exposed, the real  Mary Baker faded into obscurity and died in 1864 at the age of 75.