What Happened With Oscar Wilde’s Wife?

Mystery that was unsolved for 116 years, and which is connected with the circumstances under which 40-year-old wife of Oscar Wilde died seems to be finally resolved. Grandson of the famous Irish writer claims that he found the real reason for the death of his grandmother.

Assumptions around the death of Constance Wilde ranged from the fact that she died due to spinal injuries that occurred after the unfortunate fall down the stairs, to the suspicion that she died of syphilis that her husband was transferred to her.

Medical evidence discovered in the family letters of Merlin Holland, Oscar Wilde’s grandson, however, indicates that the Constance probably suffered from multiple sclerosis.

In the letters, there are some parts where are described the symptoms of her illness, inlcuding paralyzing pain, unbearable headaches, inability of movement, all of which are indications of auto-immune diseases. This disease was widely known at the time, but all evidence suggests that the writer's wife was a victim of very radical medical practice.

It was thought that this disease is most effectively treated with baths and mild electric shocks that practiced unnamed German doctor, or that it is possible to be solved by the gynecological surgery, as it was suggested by the Italian Luigi Maria Bosi. Constance was operated by Doctor Bosi, but the operation failed to improve her condition.

After a while they, tried another operation to help her, but after that, Constance fell into a coma. She did not wake after this. Although she was advised physician from London not to go for surgery, she ignored this advice, believing that it will make her to overcome the disease.

Instead of this, she died. Bosi, who for years has faced allegations that he was doing his job negligent and unethical, also ended tragic. He was murdered two decades after this from a gun. The murderer was a jealous husband of the patient.

Constance married to Oscar Wilde in 1884. Upon learning of his homosexual outings in 1895, she moved to Italy with their two sons. They settled in Genoa and changed the name in Holland. During this period, most letters are exchanged with his brother Otto, and in them she often spoke about her illness.

Grandson, Merlin Holland, claims that he was immensely pleased that he finally found out the truth about the death of his grandmother.