Jane Austen died in 1817 at age 41, but how is a bit of a mystery. Now, Author Lindsay Ashford is arguing she may have died of arsenic poisoning.
Jane Austen died in 1817 at age 41, but how is a bit of a mystery. Now, Author Lindsay Ashford is arguing she may have died of arsenic poisoning.
I used to follow the controversy over whether Napoleon was murdered (conclusion: probably not). One thing I learned was that arsenic was a very common household item in those days, and contamination, both by ingestion and contact, is not very unusual in hair samples from the era.
While we’re on the topic, Samantha Henderson’s “Five Ways Jane Austen Never Died” is worth a listen.