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National Geographic
16-07-2025
- Entertainment
- National Geographic
How did Jane Austen die? Even after two centuries, nobody knows.
This portrait of Jane Austen was created based on her sister's watercolor sketch of the novelist—the only authenticated portrait of her. 250 years after her birth, the celebrated novelist's death remains a medical mystery that generations of experts have tried to solve. Photograph by Stefano Bianchetti, Bridgeman Images When Jane Austen died on July 18, 1817, at the age of 41, she left behind only six complete novels—and one of the most vexing medical mysteries of all time. No one knows what exactly caused her death. But Austen experienced a curious assortment of symptoms late in life, ranging from recurring fevers and fatigue to stomach issues and concerns over her changing complexion. The enduring mystery has piqued the interest of scholars and armchair sleuths alike, who have proposed a variety of medical conditions to explain her death, including cancer and accidental poisoning. (Murder or madness: What really killed Edgar Allan Poe?) The act of posthumously diagnosing Austen is part of a larger cottage industry of retrospective diagnosis, the practice of applying modern medical knowledge to diagnose someone from the past. But can it shed any insight into Jane Austen's life—and solve the mystery of her death? Born on December 16, 1775, Jane Austen appears to have had a relatively healthy childhood and young adulthood. 'Jane Austen was vigorous and active until her attacks of ill health in the last year or so of her life,' says Juliette Wells, professor of literary studies at Goucher College and guest co-curator of A Lively Mind: Jane Austen at 250 at The Morgan Library & Museum. 'Until then, her letters include many mentions of enjoying dancing, often for hours at a time, as well as long country walks.' (Jane Austen never wed, but she knew how to play the marriage game.) Austen's health took a turn around the age of 40 in 1816 while she was finishing the novel Persuasion. Her symptoms, which included rheumatism and fatigue, came and went, and she reported them in a series of surviving letters. On March 23, 1817, Austen described her complexion to her niece Fanny Knight as 'black and white and every wrong colour,' and observed, 'Sickness is a dangerous indulgence at my time of life.' Two weeks later, she complained in a letter to her brother Charles of having been 'too unwell the last fortnight to write anything that was not absolutely necessary.' She was 'suffering from a bilious attack attended with a good deal of fever.' Around that same time, her niece Caroline Austen visited and noticed the 'alteration' in her aunt. 'She was very pale, and her voice was weak and low, and there was about her a general appearance of debility and suffering; but I have been told that she never had much acute pain.' 'Jane made her will in late April, several months before she died––suggesting an understanding that her condition was serious,' notes Devoney Looser, Regents' Professor of English at Arizona State University and author of Wild for Austen: A Rebellious, Subversive, and Untamed Jane. The next month, Austen and her sister Cassandra moved to Winchester, England, where the novelist sought medical care for an unknown illness. 'The treatment was not effective, and Jane died […] in Cassandra's arms,' Wells says. (A guide to Regency Bath on the anniversary of Jane Austen's birth.) 'I have lost a treasure, such a sister, such a friend as never can have been surpassed,' Cassandra wrote two days after her sister's death. 'She was the sun of my life, the gilder of every pleasure, the soother of every sorrow.' Jane Austen's surviving letters, and those of friends and family, serve as the main sources for information about her death. But those letters don't give a full picture. In the wake of Jane's death, Cassandra destroyed many of her sister's letters, likely to protect her privacy and reputation—and unwittingly opening the door to rampant speculation. Did Jane Austen have Addison's disease or lupus? What caused Jane Austen's death? One of the most prevalent theories, first proposed in 1964 by surgeon Zachary Cope, is that Austen lived with Addison's disease, a condition in which the adrenal glands can't produce hormones such as cortisol. Addison's disease causes symptoms like the fatigue and skin darkening that Austen's letters describe. But there is one problem with that theory. In 2021, emeritus consultants at London's St. Thomas' Hospital with an interest in Jane Austen lore Michael Sanders and Elizabeth Graham pointed out that Addison's disease in Austen's era was typically caused by tuberculosis. 'Jane had no chest or orthopaedic problems to suggest TB, and both her doctors, Curtis and Lyford, would have been familiar with the diagnosis,' they wrote. Instead, they proposed a different autoimmune disease, lupus, which would account for Austen's 'rheumatism, facial skin lesions, fever and marked fluctuation of these symptoms.' Did Jane Austen die of cancer? Others, including biographer Carol Shields, believe cancer was a 'very likely cause' of the novelist's death, speculating that breast cancer may have run in Austen's family. Looser agrees that cancer appears to be 'a more plausible diagnosis,' since it 'was not uncommon' in Austen's era. If Austen had cancer, the risk of it metastasizing would have been high. 'The only available cancer treatment, surgery, was very risky in Austen's day,' Looser observes. 'It relied on being able to identify and excise the tumor, at a time when surgery itself could kill, due to the risk of infection.' Other theories include Hodgkin's lymphoma. Jane Austen scholar Annette Upfal considered Austen's full medical history and concluded that the author may have suffered earlier in life than most believe, noting 'she was particularly susceptible to infection, and suffered unusually severe infective illnesses, as well as a chronic conjunctivitis that impeded her ability to write.' In 2017, the British Library raised new questions about Austen's health when it tested three pairs of glasses that may have belonged to her and found that the glasses all had different lens strengths. According to the library, a consulting optometrist examined the results and said it was possible that Austen may have developed cataracts. He also floated a theory that those cataracts were caused by 'accidental poisoning from a heavy metal such as arsenic,' which was prevalent in the 19th century. Looser considers this 'the least credible theory.' The glasses were 'found in her writing desk' but 'may or may not have been hers.' And though Austen was 'described [as] having weak eyes,' poor vision can have many causes—not just arsenic-induced cataracts. 'So you can see how this is a leap and a stretch––from desk to glasses to vision problems to arsenic poisoning,' she says. Why it's so hard to diagnose historical figures In addition to examining old letters and belongings, scholars may also leverage surviving medical casebooks and physician's notes to diagnose historical figures. But even these shouldn't be taken at face value, notes Mindy Schwartz, professor of medicine at The University of Chicago. 'What they prioritize, what they leave out––these texts show the biases of the time and the priorities that the physicians had when creating them.' It also shows the limited resources of the time. For example, physicians in Austen's era would have made a clinical diagnosis, which took into account the patient's history and a physical examination. But this probably wouldn't have yielded a definitive diagnosis because many conditions have overlapping symptoms. 'We didn't have microbiology, CAT scans, or blood work [at the time of her illness], so it would have been hard to make an accurate diagnosis,' says Schwartz. Osamu Muramoto, senior scholar at Oregon Health & Science University's Center for Ethics in Health Care, also points out, 'Human beings are evolving, microorganisms are evolving, genes are evolving. So how can we say that disease X from 200 years ago is the same disease X as today?' Even if you could posthumously diagnose historical figures, there is some debate over whether you should. 'Some people might be concerned that this is an invasion of privacy,' explains Steven Joffe, Art and Ilene Penn Professor of Medical Ethics & Health Policy and chair of the department of Medical Ethics & Health Policy at the University of Pennsylvania. 'In my opinion, those privacy considerations diminish with time.' However, he adds, ethical considerations nonetheless should factor into any retrospective diagnosis. For example, any genetic conditions have implications for the person's surviving descendants. Muramoto also points out that there's a risk in making diagnoses that carry reputational harm because they are considered taboo, such as sexually transmitted infections. At the same time, making retrospective diagnoses about historical figures can help normalize conditions that have long been stigmatized. 'Let's say you can convincingly show that Abraham Lincoln had major depression,' Joffe theorizes. 'To me, that is actually quite de-stigmatizing because it shows how somebody can have major depression and yet be one of the most influential people in American history.' Making these diagnoses can also help recontextualize the historical figure's life and work. Take 19th-century philosopher Friedrich Nietzsche, Muramoto says. 'He spent almost a decade with very, very poor health, mental illness, dementia.' Muramoto thinks tertiary syphilis is the likely diagnosis, saying it 'would explain, in my view, the paranoid tone of his later writings.' This is likely not the case for Jane Austen. 'I wouldn't say her novels reflect the state of her health,' cautions Looser. Nonetheless, she adds, when Austen's symptoms were intensifying, she was starting to write Sanditon, an unfinished novel that 'features a send up of hypochondriacs and quack medicine.' We might never know why Jane Austen died. But we do know that she could poke fun at illness, Looser says, 'even in the face of her own growing physical problems.'
Time Out
06-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Time Out
Beloved literary icon Jane Austen is celebrated at this new exhibit in NYC
Anybody who has taken a high school English class is likely familiar with the name Jane Austen, but that wasn't the case when Austen was alive. Instead, she published her works—even the famed Pride and Prejudice —anonymously. It wasn't until after her death in 1817 that Austen's name became famous as one of the great English novelists. That interesting legacy, as well as much more Austen lore, is part of a new exhibition at The Morgan Library & Museum titled " A Lively Mind: Jane Austen at 250." It features first-edition copies of her novels, corresponding artworks, personal letters, historical documents and artifacts from Jane Austen's House in Chawton, England. This major exhibition celebrating Austen's 250th birthday is now open through September 14, 2025. "Our aim in the show is to welcome every visitor—regardless of their prior knowledge of Jane Austen, level of interest in Jane Austen, possible prejudices against Jane Austen," Juliette Wells, co-curator of the exhibition and Professor of Literary Studies at Goucher College, said at a preview event for the exhibit. To that end, the exhibition takes a chronological approach, starting with Austen's younger years when her father helped to buoy her love of the written word. Her father, a reverend, owned 500 books, a large personal collection for that era. Also rare for the time, he allowed his daughters to read whatever they wanted whether that was from his collection, borrowed from friends or obtained from a library. Unfortunately, her father's death dealt a blow to the ambitious young writer, who then struggled through unsettled years with a tight budget. Much of the story is told through Austen's letters to her sister and lifelong confidante Cassandra. Being able to see Austen's handwriting and read her words helps the late author tell her own story. Eventually, Austen found professional success, writing about heroines who value happiness, trust their own judgment and love wholeheartedly. That success continued from 1809 until her death at the age of 41. In Austen's time, only her family and friends knew she was the writer of popular works including Emma, Persuasion and Sense and Sensibility. Even Austen's tombstone says nothing about her authorship. It's impossible to know why Austen chose to publish anonymously, Wells said, especially when her early letters demonstrate an interest in fame. It seems Austen wanted her books to sell well, but she didn't want to be personally identified, Wells explained. Meaning she wanted people to devour her writing, but she didn't want them to come up to her on the street. Plus, The Morgan's Dale Stinchcomb added, publishing for a single woman was still unusual at that time. If she was married, it may have been a different story. "'A Lively Mind' examines how it was possible for Austen to publish her now-beloved novels when women generally were not permitted to become writers, much less encouraged to be," said Stinchcomb, Drue Heinz Curator of Literary and Historical Manuscripts at the Morgan Library & Museum. We also don't know why she chose to use "By a Lady" as her literary nom de plume, though that wasn't an uncommon phrase for authors at that time. Even if they didn't know who she was, Americans were reading Austen in her lifetime—and continue to do so today. American readers, in particular, played a major role in securing Austen's place as one of the great English novelists. Austen's fandom has grown increasingly diverse and global over the decades. The exhibition ends with a nod to that trend by featuring a painting by Amy Sherald titled "A Single Man in Possession of a Good Fortune," which is a reference to the opening line of Pride and Prejudice. For even more of Sherald's artwork, check out this full exhibit of her work at The Whitney.
Yahoo
26-04-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
Goucher College breaks ground on $50M science center set to open in 2027
Officials with Goucher College broke ground on a $50 million, 44,000-square-foot science center this week. The Lewent Science Center will be a LEED-rated annex to the Hoffberger Science Building and is planned to open in the fall of 2027. The new space will allow additional faculty and student research opportunities. Classes offered in the new building will include biology, molecular biology, chemistry, environmental science, physics, applied math, data analytics, cognitive psychology and computer science. 'As one of the first colleges in the country to offer science classes to women and with nearly every current student taking a science course, Goucher continues to build on its innovative history with the new Lewent Science Center as a place of discovery for generations of students to come,' Goucher President Kent Devereaux said in a statement. 'Our graduates are global changemakers, and the knowledge they acquire here will impact our region and beyond as they pursue careers and advanced degrees while making a meaningful impact on their communities.' The new facility will also expand Goucher's Summer Science Research program, which offers undergraduate students research experience. The Lewent Science Center will also allow Goucher's post-Baccalaureate Premedical Program to expand for more students to study medicine, college officials said. Have a news tip? Contact Todd Karpovich at tkarpovich@ or on X as @ToddKarpovich.
Yahoo
06-04-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Dora Henriette Leanos, retired Goucher College French professor, dies
Dora Henriette Leanos, a retired Goucher College French professor, died March 25 in her sleep of Parkinson's disease complications at the Oak Crest Senior Living Community. The former Towson resident was 86. Born in Budapest, Hungary, she was the daughter of Henrik Horchler, an optical engineer and Dora Nagy, a teacher. The family left their home to avoid the Russian Army occupation at the end of World War II. She recalled a wartime escape and seeing bodies in the streets. They left on a truck. They lived in Schruns, Austria, where she attended a convent school that had no heat. She recalled waking in the morning to find a washing bowl covered in ice. The family sailed to the U.S. on a Liberty Ship in 1950 and settled initially in Port Jervis, New York. She attended Eden Hall Convent of the Sacred Heart and earned her undergraduate degree from Chestnut Hill College and a doctorate from the University of Pennsylvania. She was also awarded a Fulbright Scholarship and studied at the Sorbonne in Paris. In 1973 she married James Leanos, a commercial real estate broker. They met through mutual friends during a 'Handel's Messiah' concert at The Lyric. Their wedding was held at the Goucher College Chapel. She taught French at Goucher College from 1968 to 2003 and retired as an assistant professor. 'Henriette was low-key in her approach to teaching. She was traditional — she insisted upon proper diction and grammar,' her husband said. 'Henriette's passion for languages was complemented by a love for travel,' her husband said. 'She had an inquisitive mind. She built a rich and varied circle of friends with whom she was deliberate about maintaining contact and visiting.' He said she enjoyed working with her hands. She 'was an avid gardener with a gift for creating serene backyard settings as well as plentiful vegetables,' her husband said. Suzanne Fitzhugh Cooper 'Suzi' Smith, poet and pianist, dies at 103 Frances E. 'Fran' Smith, medical assistant and philanthropist, dies Perry Lee Conley Sr., retired Baltimore County principal, dies Anne Maureen Pomykala, who restored the Greenspring Valley's Gramercy Mansion, dies Ruth Beitchman Gavis, retired teacher and advocate for seniors, dies She was a quilter and embroiderer. She belonged to a quilting group called SEPT and QUILT where she made close friends 'Her artistic talent, combined with unmatched patience and attention to detail, produced many beautiful items that are treasured by their recipients,' her husband said. Known as 'Muci,' she was the core of her large, extended family and her passing leaves a hole in the hearts of all who knew and loved her. A memorial service and Mass will be held at 10 a.m. May 10 at the Oak Crest Chapel, 8800 Walther Blvd. in Parkville. Survivors include her husband of 52 years, James Leanos; two sons, Alexander Speros Leanos, of Wilmington, North Carolina and Nicholas Henry Leanos, of Greenbelt; two brothers, Martin Horchler, of Andalusia, Pennsylvania and Gabriel Horchler of Cheverly; a sister, Beatrix Daily of Philadelphia; a grandson; and numerous nieces and nephews. Have a news tip? Contact Jacques Kelly at and 410-332-6570.
CBS News
27-01-2025
- General
- CBS News
Family photo lost in California wildfires returned to owner after global search
BALTIMORE -- After a search that went global, a family photo found in Pasadena, California, was reunited with its owner over the weekend. More than two weeks ago, Cheryl Heuton found the photo in her front yard as crews were working to extinguish the destructive wildfires in Southern California. The family has a Baltimore connection. The online search When Heuton found the photo, she immediately thought it came from a home that was in the path of the Eaton Fire -- and also thought how much the family would love to have it back. So, she posted about it on social media. By the time WJZ reporter Dennis Valera met her, Heuton already had a few tips of who the family could be. However, she had trouble getting in touch. "By the time it had been over a [still] have been trying to contact members of the family. I was wondering if anyone really wanted this photo back," Heuton said. Eventually, she was able to get through. Nearly 2 weeks ago, I met Cheryl Heuton in Pasadena CA. She was trying to reunite a family photo she found in her yard. Over the weekend, Heuton returned it, in a very emotional moment. We'll hear from her and the family who got their priceless memory back at 5 @wjz — Dennis Valera (@dennisreports) January 27, 2025 Making the connection Annatova Neches said her brother, who lives in Japan, notified her of an email he received. "He thought it was a scam," Neches said, adding he thought there was an image in it that could be generated by A.I. Neches's brother forwarded her the email and, when she checked it, she was surprised by the picture attached. "I was like, 'Oh my God, no, that's real,'" Neches said. Neches, who graduated from Goucher College and lived in Baltimore for nearly a decade, said her mother has dementia. Family photos are a way for her mother to stay connected. "These photo albums are generally around, maybe in the kitchen or in her bedroom, and the windows and doors were getting blown open," she said. After Neches got into contact with Heuton, the two arranged to meet at an art show Neches organized to showcase her mother's work on Saturday. While both are happy the photo is back where it belongs, both also say it's hard to balance the happiness with the sadness that not everyone can have a moment like this. "It's a mixed feeling because it's a resolution for this it's just one little photo in an area where so much has been lost," Heuton said. Neches adds, "It makes me feel so hyper aware of how lucky we are, how much loss is just right next to us." Neches said her mother's house is still standing, though it did have considerable wind damage.
