Pride and Prejudice and Murder

Jane Austen did not die of natural causes -- she was murdered.

I know some of you suspect Seth Grahame-Smith, but I’m not talking about mash-ups here.

There’s a wonderful new novel out, and author Lindsay Ashford’s theory is that Austen did not die of bovine tuberculosis or Hodgkins’ lymphoma, as historians believe, but of arsenic poisoning.

And, just maybe, it was murder.

　

There seems to be something of a cottage industry surrounding Jane Austen, with mountains of Jane-inspired books and movies reveling in the Regency period. But Ashford, a novelist whose work is usually of the gritty and urban varieties, offers something completely different to Austenites -- crime!

And the exciting part is that it’s true crime. Well, Ashford's book The Mysterious Death of Miss Austen isn’t really true crime, it’s speculative fiction, but it’s based on some pretty intriguing evidence. Austen’s letters describe symptoms consistent with arsenic poisoning, and -- bum bum bummmm -- a lock of Austen’s hair tested positive for arsenic.

I’m already imagining Agatha Christie time-traveling to the nineteenth century to crack the case. Maybe along the way she’ll team up with a young Mary Shelley.

And together, they’ll fight the Zombie Menace.

Let's Start With Some Tall Tales

Hi, and welcome to the inaugural post of my blog, Ripped from the Pages! I love fact, and I love fiction. And I especially love when the two get a little mixed up. Movies that claim to be “ripped from the headlines” -- awesome. Novels ripped from the pages of history -- even awesome-er. So let’s get to it!

My first post is inspired by my 9-year-old son. His phenomenal teacher, Mrs. Constantine, passed out awards to all the boys and girls of the class -- the peacemaker of the class got the Ghandi award, the class clown got the Bill Cosby award, the quiet girl who is definitely going to do great things one day got the Rosa Parks award. All very thoughtful and educational presentations. As a mama, I got chocked up.

My son got the Johnny Appleseed award for, as the certificate explains, his compassion, keen interest in nature, and his love for all living things.

We all know the story of Johnny Appleseed. Good ol’ Johnny takes his place among American folk tales alongside Paul Bunyan and Pecos Bill. Giant blue oxen, lassoing the moon, planting apple trees across America while wearing a pot on one’s head. Tall tales for sure.

But, as it turns out, Johnny Appleseed isn’t just a character. He was a real person. And, as a new book by Howard Means points out, almost certainly insane.

Gee, thanks, Mrs. Constantine.

Yep, Johnny Appleseed, or John Chapman, as his mother called him, was born in 1774 and grew up in Massachusetts. While still a young man, he left home a started planting apple seeds and spreading his own brand of spirituality and environmentalism. It’s that nurturing and love of nature that inspired my son’s teacher to bestow the Johnny Appleseed award on my son. Probably not the insanity part.

Maybe Johnny Appleseed was insane. He’s not the only historical figure accused of being insane because of his beliefs. Joan of Arc, or to take a more current example, Ralph Nader, did things that, let’s face it, the sane among us would probably never consider. I’m just not convinced they’re all that insane. And I don't think we should try to discount or diminish their actions by calling them crazy.

So Sam, I’m glad you love nature. And I’m glad you care about all living things. And if you decide to do something with your life that other people say is crazy, baby, that’s fine by me.