Questions surrounding the death of renowned author Jane Austen continue to intrigue scholars, particularly as the 250th anniversary of her birth approaches on December 16, 2025. Austen, who passed away at just 41 years old on 18th July 1817, lived her final days at No. 8 College Street in Winchester, England, where she sought treatment for an unidentified illness that plagued her for nearly a year.
Austen’s health condition remains a puzzle, with experts attempting to diagnose her based on her own letters and accounts. According to Devoney Looser, a regents professor of English at Arizona State University, “There is, as of yet, no clear answer about what caused Jane Austen’s death at age 41.” This uncertainty stems from the limited medical evidence available, leaving researchers to piece together clues from Austen’s writings and the experiences of her contemporaries.
Throughout her illness, Austen experienced various symptoms, including fatigue, weight loss, and discomfort in her joints. Dr. Dacia Boyce, an internal medicine physician, noted that these symptoms align with several potential diagnoses. The debate has included conditions such as Addison’s disease, stomach cancer, tuberculosis, and even Hodgkin’s lymphoma. Each potential diagnosis presents overlapping symptoms, complicating the search for a definitive cause of death.
Investigating Symptoms and Theories
Among the early analyses, a paper by Zachary Cope in 1964 proposed that Austen succumbed to Addison’s disease, a rare condition characterized by insufficient hormone production by the adrenal glands. However, more recent theories have emerged, suggesting she may have suffered from a slow-growing cancer, such as lymphoma.
Former neuro-ophthalmologist Dr. Michael D. Sanders dedicated his retirement to exploring Austen’s mysterious decline. He meticulously reviewed her letters alongside Dr. Elizabeth Graham, another medical expert, to create a timeline of her health deterioration. Their findings indicated that Austen’s symptoms became most pronounced in late August 1816, when she described herself as “black and white and every wrong colour,” reflecting her struggle with a skin rash and other ailments.
Austen was not without medical attention; she consulted reputable physicians during her illness. According to Graham, “There’s no evidence that she saw what we would call quacks. She saw good physicians.” Despite this, the exact nature of her ailment remained elusive, leading to speculation about various diseases.
Systemic Lupus Erythematosus: A New Hypothesis
Sanders and Graham eventually hypothesized that Austen may have had systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), an autoimmune disease often characterized by joint pain, skin changes, and fatigue. This theory is particularly intriguing as SLE was not well understood until after Austen’s death, making it a fitting candidate for her symptoms.
The pair’s study, published in the journal Lupus in January 2021, noted that Austen’s frequent complaints of joint pain and her episodes of symptom remission were not consistent with the behaviors typically seen in lymphoma patients. Graham remarked, “The fact that she had a disease that waxed and waned, fluctuated with high fevers and a skin rash, and at times would feel really well, suggests something different from lymphoma.”
Despite the advancements in understanding her potential health issues, researchers face limitations due to the absence of concrete medical records from Austen’s time. Graham noted there is no official death certificate, and the doctors of her era did not document specific diagnoses as contemporary practitioners would.
The ongoing quest for answers is reminiscent of the work done on other historical figures, such as composer Ludwig van Beethoven. Genetic analyses of Beethoven’s hair have provided insights into his health, a process that has not yet been pursued for Austen despite the existence of several hair samples associated with her.
As the search for the truth about Austen’s health continues, scholars remain divided on the exact nature of her illness. Some lean towards the lymphoma hypothesis, while others support the more recent lupus theory. This ongoing discussion underscores not only the challenges of diagnosing historical figures but also the broader implications of understanding illness in literature.
While the ultimate cause of Jane Austen’s death may remain speculative, the dialogue surrounding her health opens avenues to explore the intersections of literature, medicine, and the human experience. As Austen’s works grapple with themes of illness and societal expectations, they resonate with contemporary audiences facing their own health challenges.
Ultimately, the enduring legacy of Jane Austen is not solely in her novels but also in the questions and connections that her life continues to inspire.
