Axel Munthe in the early 1930s

Axel Martin Fredrik Munthe (October 31, 1857, Oskarshamn ,Sweden - February 11, 1949, Stockholm) was a Swedish physician and psychiatrist, best known as the author of The Story of San Michele (1929), an autobiographical account of his work and life. Image File history File links Size of this preview: 310 × 599 pixelsFull resolution (509 × 984 pixel, file size: 94 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg) The text below is generated by a template which has been proposed for deletion. ... Image File history File links Size of this preview: 310 × 599 pixelsFull resolution (509 × 984 pixel, file size: 94 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg) The text below is generated by a template which has been proposed for deletion. ... is the 304th day of the year (305th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... 1857 was a common year starting on Thursday (see link for calendar). ... February 11 is the 42nd day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... 1949 (MCMXLIX) was a common year starting on Saturday (the link is to a full 1949 calendar). ... Nickname: Location of Stockholm in northern Europe Coordinates: , Country Sweden Municipality Stockholm Municipality County Stockholm Province Södermanland and Uppland Charter 13th century Government  - Mayor Kristina Axén Olin (m) Population (March 2007)  - City 786,509  - Density 4,160/km² (10,774. ... The Doctor by Luke Fildes This article is about the term physician, one type of doctor; for other uses of the word doctor see Doctor. ... Psychiatry is a branch of medicine that studies and treats mental and emotional disorders (see mental illness). ... The Story of San Michele is a book of memoirs by Swedish physician Axel Munthe (October 31, 1857 - February 11, 1949) first published in 1929 by British publisher John Murray. ... Year 1929 (MCMXXIX) was a common year starting on Tuesday (link will display the full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ...

Munthe had an international character, speaking several languages (Swedish, English, French, Neopolitan Italian and Capriote Italian fluently, and German at least passably), growing up in Sweden, attending medical school and opening his first practice in France, being married to an English aristocrat, and spending most of his adult life in Italy. He had a philanthropic nature, often treating the poor without charge at his medical practices, and risking his life on several occasions to help in times of war, disaster, or plague when he could have remained at a safe distance. He was a tireless advocate of animal rights, purchasing land to create a bird sanctuary near his home in Italy, advocating bans on painful traps, and keeping pets as diverse as an owl, dogs, and a baboon.

His writing is whimsical, being primarily memoirs drawn from his real-life experiences but often tinged with dramatic license. He wrote primarily of people and their idiosyncrasies, portraying the foibles of both the rich and the poor (and a few animals), often in a tragicomic fashion. Artistic licence or license (US), also known as dramatic license/licence, is a colloquial term used to denote the liberties an artist may take in the name of art — for example, if an artist decided it was more artistically correct to portray St. ...

Family

Axel Munthe's family came from Flanders and settled in Sweden during the 16th century. Flanders (Dutch: ) is a large historical region overlapping Belgium, France and the Netherlands. ...

Early life

Munthe began college in 1874 at Uppsala University. Year 1874 (MDCCCLXXIV) was a common year starting on Thursday (link with display the full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar (or a common year starting on Saturday of the 12-day slower Julian calendar). ... Uppsala University (Swedish Uppsala universitet) is a public university in Uppsala, Sweden. ...

While travelling in 1875, Munthe sailed in a small boat from Sorrento to the island of Capri. Climbing the Phoenician stairs to the village of Anacapri, he came upon a peasant's house and the adjacent ruin of a chapel dedicated to San Michele and was immediately captivated by the idea of rebuilding the ruin into a home. 1875 (MDCCCLXXV) was a common year starting on Friday (see link for calendar). ... Sorrento is a small city in Campania, Italy, with some 16,500 inhabitants. ... Capri (Italian pronunciation Cápri, usual English pronunciation Caprí) is an Italian island off the Sorrentine Peninsula. ... Phoenician sarcophagus found in Cadiz, Spain; now in Archaeological Museum of Cádiz. ... Overlooking Capri harbor from Villa San Michele Capri is an island off the coast of Italy, in the Bay of Naples that has been a celebrated beauty spot and resort since the time of the Roman Republic. ... San Michele, nicknamed The Island of the Dead, is the cemetery island of Venice. ...

Munthe studied medicine in Uppsala, Montpellier, and Paris (where he was a student of Charcot), graduating M.D. in 1880 at the age of 23. Although his thesis was on the subject of gynecology and obstetrics, Munthe was deeply impressed by the pioneering work in neurology done by Professor Jean-Martin Charcot, having attended his lectures at the Salpêtrière hospital. The shamefulness associated with the examination of female genitalia has long inhibited the science of gynaecology. ... Obstetrics (from the Latin obstare, to stand by) is the surgical specialty dealing with the care of a woman and her offspring during pregnancy, childbirth and the puerperium (the period shortly after birth). ... Neurology is a branch of medicine dealing with disorders of the nervous system. ... Categories: People stubs | French physicians | 1825 births | 1893 deaths | History of medicine ... The Pitié-Salpêtrière Hospital is a hospital in Paris. ...

Paris and Italy

The sphynx in Villa San Michele

After graduation, Munthe opened a medical practice in Paris, largely catering to the members of the Scandinavian art colony there. In 1883 he traveled to Naples to help with the cholera epidemic. Image File history File links Metadata Size of this preview: 800 × 600 pixelsFull resolution (1600 × 1200 pixel, file size: 343 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg) File history Legend: (cur) = this is the current file, (del) = delete this old version, (rev) = revert to this old version. ... Image File history File links Metadata Size of this preview: 800 × 600 pixelsFull resolution (1600 × 1200 pixel, file size: 343 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg) File history Legend: (cur) = this is the current file, (del) = delete this old version, (rev) = revert to this old version. ... An art colony is a place where artists live and work, interacting with one another, often creating a distinctive style. ... 1883 (MDCCCLXXXIII) was a common year starting on Monday (see link for calendar). ... Alternate uses: See Naples (disambiguation) Naples (Italian Napoli, Neapolitan Napule, from Greek Νέα-Πόλις, latinised in Neapolis) is the largest town in southern Italy, capital of Campania region. ... Cholera (frequently called Asiatic cholera or epidemic cholera) is a severe diarrheal disease caused by the bacterium Vibrio cholerae. ...

In 1887, he moved to Capri and managed to purchase the Villa San Michele and begin restoring the buildings there, doing much of the work himself, but also employing local residents, including three brothers and their father. 1887 (MDCCCLXXXVII) is a common year starting on Saturday (click on link for calendar) of the Gregorian calendar or a common year starting on Monday of the Julian calendar. ... Villa San Michele was built around the turn of the 20th century by Swedish doctor Axel Munthe on the ruins of an ancient Roman Emperors villa on the Island of Capri, Italy. ...

In 1890, running low on money for the renovations, he opened a practice in Rome which catered to foreign dignitaries as well as the local population. From this point on he split his time between Rome and Capri. 1890 (MDCCCXC) was a common year starting on Wednesday (see link for calendar) of the Gregorian calendar (or a common year starting on Friday of the Julian calendar). ... The Roman Colosseum Rome (Italian and Latin Roma) is the capital city of Italy, and of its Lazio region. ...

Queen Victoria of Sweden

In 1892, Munthe was appointed as physician to the Swedish royal family. In particular, he served as the personal physician of the Crown princess, Victoria of Baden, and he continued in these duties while she was Queen consort, up until the time of her death in 1930, although this does not mean that he was constantly in attendance on her. 1892 (MDCCCXCII) was a leap year starting on Friday (see link for calendar). ... The Swedish Royal Family consists of a number of persons in the Swedish Royal House of Bernadotte, closely related to the King of Sweden, who are entitled to royal titles, and some of which are performing various official engagements on behalf of the Royal Family and ceremonial duties of State. ... A Crown Prince or Crown Princess is the heir or heiress apparent to the throne in a royal or imperial monarchy. ... Victoria of Baden (August 7, 1862 - April 4, 1930) was the Queen consort of King Gustav V of Sweden. ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ... Year 1930 (MCMXXX) was a common year starting on Wednesday (link will display 1930 calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ...

Victoria suffered from severe bronchitis and possibly also from tuberculosis. Munthe recommended that she spend her winters on Capri for her health. While initially hesitant, in the autumn of 1910 she traveled to Capri, and from then on, except during the First World War and a few years towards the end of her life, she spent several months a year on Capri. Bronchitis is inflammation of the bronchi (medium-size airways) in the lungs. ... Tuberculosis (abbreviated as TB for tubercle bacillus) is a common and deadly infectious disease caused by mycobacteria, mainly Mycobacterium tuberculosis. ...

While in residence, the Queen went to the Villa San Michele many mornings in order to join Munthe for walks around the island. Munthe and the Queen also arranged evening concerts at San Michele, at which the Queen played the piano. The Queen shared Munthe's love of animals, keeping a pet dog, and helping support his efforts to purchase Mount Barbarossa to set it aside as a bird sanctuary. Perhaps inevitably given the small local population and their close friendship, it was rumored that Munthe and the Queen were lovers, but this has not been substantiated. ...

Marriage

In 1907, Dr. Munthe married Hilda Pennington-Mellor. They had two sons, Peter and Malcolm. Major Malcolm Munthe (30th January 1910 - December 1995), was a British soldier, writer, and curator, and son of the famous Swedish doctor and writer Axel Munthe and his second wife Hilda Pennington-Mellor. ...

Hilda Munthe came from an aristocratic English background. Her family owned two notable English properties; Hellens in Herefordshire, one of the oldest dwellings in England, and Southside House, a 17th century mansion on Wimbledon Common in London. Hellens Manor is situated in the village of Much Marcle, Herefordshire. ... Herefordshire is a historic and ceremonial county and unitary district (known as County of Herefordshire) in the West Midlands region of England. ... Southside House is a 17th century house located on the south side of Wimbledon Common. ... Wimbledon and Putney Commons consist of a large open space south west of London comprising 1140 acres (4. ... This article is about the capital of England and the United Kingdom. ...

An anecdote relates that Munthe was discussing publication of The Story of San Michele with his publisher, John Murray, in the garden at Southside, and Murray related that his ancestor, also a publisher named John Murray, had sat in the same garden with Lord Byron, discussing publication of Byron's works. John Murray is a British publishing house, renowned for the roster of authors it has published in its history, including Jane Austen, Lord Byron and Charles Darwin. ... John Murray (1778–1843) was a Scottish publisher and member of the famous John Murray publishing house. ... Lord Byron, English poet Lord Byron (1803), as painted by Elisabeth Vigee-Lebrun George Gordon Byron, 6th Baron Byron, (January 22, 1788 – April 19, 1824) was the most widely read English language poet of his day. ...

In 1910-1911, Dr. Munthe had a 14-room summer home built as a wedding present for his wife. The residence, initially called Stengården (The Stone Court), has been called Hildasholm since her death in 1967. Year 1910 (MCMX) was a common year starting on Saturday (link will display calendar) of the Gregorian calendar (or a common year starting on Friday [1] of the 13-day-slower Julian calendar). ... Year 1911 (MCMXI) was a common year starting on Sunday (link will display the full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar (or a common year starting on Saturday of the 13-day-slower Julian calendar). ...

Hildasholm was built amidst the trees on the edge of Lake Siljan in Dalarna. It was designed by architect Torben Grut, who would in 1912 complete the Stockholm stadium used in that year's Olympics. Hilda landscaped the home with an English garden that combines with the rocky and dramatic native landscape. It was furnished with 17th, 18th, and 19th century art and furniture from Italy, England, and France. Siljan, in Dalecarlia in central Sweden, is Swedens sixth largest lake. ... There is also Norwegian region called Dalane. ... 1912 (MCMXII) was a leap year starting on Monday in the Gregorian calendar (or a leap year starting on Tuesday in the 13-day-slower Julian calendar). ... Stockholms Olympiastadion as seen at the opening of the 1912 Summer Olympics. ...

Mrs. Munthe and the boys usually stayed in this house during the summer, but Dr. Munthe was not there very often, spending as much time as possible at San Michele.

First World War

During the First World War, Munthe served in an ambulance corps. He wrote the book Red Cross, Iron Cross about his wartime experiences. “The Great War ” redirects here. ...

Later life

Munthe developed an eye malady which eventually made him virtually blind and unable to tolerate the bright Italian sunlight. At this point he returned to Sweden for a number of years and wrote The Story of San Michele (published in 1929), which was well received, having been translated into at least forty-five languages and said to be one of the best-selling books of the 20th century. The Story of San Michele is a book of memoirs by Swedish physician Axel Munthe (October 31, 1857 - February 11, 1949) first published in 1929 by British publisher John Murray. ... Year 1929 (MCMXXIX) was a common year starting on Tuesday (link will display the full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ...

An operation restored his sight, and he spent several more years at San Michele before returning to Sweden in 1942. He spent the final years of his life as an official guest of the King of Sweden.

During the Second World War, Munthe's son Malcolm Pennington Mellor Munthe served with the Special Operations Executive, working behind Nazi lines in occupied Scandinavia, and later participating in the Allied invasion at Anzio. Malcolm was seriously wounded during the war and eventually became reclusive. Mushroom cloud from the nuclear explosion over Nagasaki rising 18 km into the air. ... The Special Operations Executive (SOE), sometimes referred to as the Baker Street Irregulars after Sherlock Holmess fictional group of spies, was a World War II organization initiated by Winston Churchill and Hugh Dalton in July 1940 as a mechanism for conducting warfare by means other than direct military engagement. ... National Socialism redirects here. ... Combatants United States, United Kingdom Germany Commanders Harold Alexander Mark W. Clark John P. Lucas Lucian Truscott Albert Kesselring Eberhard von Mackensen Strength 22 Jan 1944: 36,000 soldiers and 2,300 vehicles End May:150,000 soldiers and 1,500 guns 22 Jan 1944: 20,000 soldiers End May...

Medical outlook

Munthe tried to avoid prescription medication for his psychological cases whenever possible, often recommending hypnosis, music, and other less allopathic medical approaches. He was peripherally involved in Louis Pasteur's search for a rabies vaccine. He believed in euthanasia in hopeless medical situations, such as rabies, where the patient had only a period of intense pain and insanity ahead of them. Allopathic medicine is the name given by Samuel Hahnemann, the founder of homeopathy, to the methods of his medical foes. ... A vaccine is an antigenic preparation used to establish immunity to a disease. ... Euthanasia (from Ancient Greek: ευθανασία, good death) is the practice of ending the life of a terminally ill person in a painless or minimally painful way, for the purpose of limiting suffering. ...

Publications

The Story of San Michele overshadows Munthe's other publications, and includes material from some of his earlier work. His earlier work can be very difficult to find and often commands high prices, however at least one book has entered the public domain and is now freely available. The Story of San Michele is a book of memoirs by Swedish physician Axel Munthe (October 31, 1857 - February 11, 1949) first published in 1929 by British publisher John Murray. ... The public domain comprises the body of all creative works and other knowledge—writing, artwork, music, science, inventions, and others—in which no person or organization has any proprietary interest. ...

Other than his thesis, his first publications covered a number of travel discourses which appeared in the Stockholms Dagblad newspaper, and which described his experiences of relief work during the cholera epidemic in Naples. These discourses came out in book form in England in 1884 as Letters From A Mourning City, 289 pages, John Murray and Sons Publishers, London. ASIN for the second edition, published in 1887, is B00087WVNO. Munthe translated this from Swedish to English himself. The Amazon Standard Identification Number (ASIN) is a product identification number used by Amazon. ...

Vagaries was initially published in London in 1898 and is now public domain[1]. It was retitled Memories and Vagaries and a second edition printed in 1908. In 1930 there was a third edition, containing an added preface and a slightly different selection of stories with slightly different ordering. Memories and Vagaries is a collection of short memoirs and essays by Axel Munthe. ...

Red Cross, Iron Cross was published anonymously, credited as "by a doctor in France", in London in 1916 with all proceeds going to the French Red Cross, and details some of his experiences during the First World War. A second edition, credited to Munthe, was published around 1930. The Anarchist Black Cross was originally called the Anarchist Red Cross. The band Redd Kross was originally called Red Cross. This article needs to be cleaned up to conform to a higher standard of quality. ...

Publications in languages other than English

• Små Skizzer, Stockholm, 1888
• Bref och Skizzer, Stockholm, 1909

Letters From A Mourning City was published in Swedish in 1885 and in Italian in 1910.

Memories and Vagaries seems to have very different titles in other languages, often being titled roughly An Old Book of Man and Beasts; see that article for more information. Memories and Vagaries is a collection of short memoirs and essays by Axel Munthe. ...

Legacy

Several of Munthe's properties are now museums and cultural centers.

Axel Munthe willed Villa San Michele to the Swedish nation, and it is maintained by a Swedish foundation. The complex functions as a cultural center, hosting concerts, visiting Swedish scholars, and the local Swedish consulate. The foundation also maintains the Mount Barbarossa bird sanctuary, which covers over 55,000 square meters. The rule of Napoleon Bonaparte after his coup detat in France had conducted the manners of French governmant under dictatorship and in a consulate. ...

In 1980, a foundation (Stiftelsen Hildasholm) was formed to care for Hildasholm, the Munthe's Swedish home. Malcolm Munthe donated the home and the art and antiques it contains to the foundation, which operates it as a museum. It was designated a historic building in 1988, and underwent extensive restorations from 1995 through 1999. In addition to tours, the museum hosts art classes and concerts. Year 1980 (MCMLXXX) was a leap year starting on Tuesday (link displays the 1980 Gregorian calendar). ...

Malcom Munthe spent much of his life after the second world war remodeling the family's two mansions in England. His children formed the Pennington-Mellor-Munthe Charity Trust which maintains both Southside and Hellens Manor and operates them as museums, also hosting cultural events such as concerts, lectures, literary events, and so on. Members of the family still sometimes reside at these homes.

There have been at least two international symposia on Munthe, the second was held on 2003-09-13 at Hildasholm in Leksand, Sweden. Speakers included Dr. Ian McDonald, Levente Erdeos (architect, and former curator of San Michele), the Swedish author Bengt Jangfeldt, Dr. Peter Cottino (from Capri), Mårten Lindståhl, Dr.Katriona Munthe-Lindgren, and Professor Alden Smith from the Department of Classics at Baylor University. 2003 (MMIII) was a common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. ... This page deals with both Leksand Municipality and the urban area (tätort) Leksand Leksand is a Municipality in central Sweden, in the Dalarna province, administratively in Dalarna County. ... Baylor University is a private, Baptist-affiliated research university located in Waco, Texas. ...

References

• The Story of Axel Munthe by G. Munthe and G. Uezkull (1953)
• The Story of Axel Munthe, Capri and San Michele by A. Andrén (with others, 1959)

Non-English:

• Axel Munthe, der Artz von San Michele, directed by Rudolf Jugert, starring O.W. Fischer (as Axel Munthe), 1962.
• Boken Om Axel Munthes San Michele, Levente A S Erdeos, 1999, ISBN 9172033428

External links

• Hildasholm, Munthe's home in Sweden
• Villa San Michele, Munthe's home on Capri
• Capri Review Magazine article on Queen Victoria and Munthe
• Southside House
• Hellens Manor
• New York Public Library catalog page for Letters From A Mourning City