Axel Munthe facts for kids
Axel Martin Fredrik Munthe (born October 31, 1857 – died February 11, 1949) was a Swedish doctor and writer. He is best known for his book, The Story of San Michele. This book tells the story of his own life and work.
Axel Munthe spoke many languages, including Swedish, English, French, Italian, and some German. He grew up in Sweden and studied medicine there. Later, he continued his medical studies in Paris, France, and opened his first doctor's office there. He married an Englishwoman and lived most of his adult life in Italy.
He was very kind and often treated poor people for free. He even risked his life to help others during wars, disasters, or sickness outbreaks. Axel Munthe also cared deeply about animals. He bought land in Italy to create a bird sanctuary near his home. He also spoke out against painful animal traps. He had many different pets, like an owl, a baboon, and many dogs. His writings are often funny and based on his real-life experiences. But they can also be a bit sad. He wrote mostly about people and their unique ways, both rich and poor, and also about animals.
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Axel Munthe's Early Life
Axel Munthe was born in Oskarshamn, Sweden. His family originally came from Flanders (a region in Belgium) and moved to Sweden in the 1500s.
He started college at Uppsala University in 1874. In 1875, while traveling in Italy, Munthe sailed to the island of Capri. He climbed the Phoenician Steps to the village of Anacapri. There, he found an old house and the ruins of a small church dedicated to San Michele. He immediately loved the idea of rebuilding the ruins and making them his home.
Munthe studied medicine in Uppsala, Montpellier, and Paris. He learned from famous doctors like Jean-Martin Charcot. He became a doctor in 1880 when he was 23 years old. He was very interested in the study of the nervous system, called neurology.
His Family
Axel was the youngest of three children. His older sister, Anna (born 1854), was an artist who painted flowers. Her paintings were shown in important galleries. His brother, Arnold, was an artist, writer, and a retired Swedish Naval Captain. Arnold wrote plays and several books about naval history.
Life in Paris and Italy
After finishing his studies, Munthe opened a medical practice in Paris. He mostly treated people from the Scandinavian art colony living there. In 1884, he went to Naples, Italy, to help people during a cholera outbreak.
In 1887, he moved to Capri. He bought the Villa San Michele and started to restore it. He did a lot of the work himself and also hired local people to help.
By 1890, he needed more money for his building project. So, he opened another medical practice in Rome. This office served both important foreign visitors and local people. From then on, he spent his time between Rome and Capri.
Doctor to the Swedish Royal Family
In 1892, Axel Munthe became the doctor for the Swedish royal family. He was the personal doctor for the Crown Princess, Victoria of Baden. He continued to be her doctor even after she became Queen consort until she passed away in 1930.
Queen Victoria had serious breathing problems. Munthe suggested she spend her winters on Capri for her health. She started visiting Capri in 1910 and continued to do so for many years, except during the First World War.
When the Queen was on Capri, she often visited the Villa San Michele. She and Munthe would take morning walks around the island. They also held evening concerts at San Michele, where the Queen played the piano. The Queen also loved animals, just like Munthe. She had her own pet dog and helped him buy Mount Barbarossa to create a bird sanctuary.
Axel Munthe's Marriages
Axel Munthe first married Ultima Hornberg, a Swedish woman, on November 24, 1880. They met while she was studying art in Paris. They later divorced.
In 1907, Munthe married Hilda Pennington-Mellor (1876–1967). Her English family owned two old and important homes: Hellens in Herefordshire and Southside House in London. Axel and Hilda had two sons, Peter and Malcolm.
Between 1910 and 1911, Munthe had a summer home built in Sweden as a gift for his wife. It was first called Stengården (The Stone Court), but after Hilda's death, it became known as Hildasholm. This house is located among trees by Lake Siljan in Dalarna. Hilda designed beautiful gardens around the house. She filled the home with art and furniture from Italy, England, and France. The family usually stayed there in the summer, but Munthe often preferred to be at San Michele.
First World War Service
During the First World War, Axel Munthe became a British citizen. He served in the ambulance corps, helping wounded soldiers. His experiences during the war were written about in his book, Red Cross, Iron Cross.
Later Life and Famous Book
Around 1919–1920, a famous socialite named Luisa Casati stayed at Villa San Michele.
Axel Munthe later developed an eye condition that made him almost blind. He could not stand the bright Italian sunlight. Because of this, he returned to Sweden for several years. During this time, he wrote The Story of San Michele, which was published in 1929. This book became very popular. It was translated into at least 45 languages and is considered one of the best-selling books of the 20th century.
An operation helped him regain his sight. He then spent more years at San Michele before returning to Sweden in 1942. He spent his final years as a special guest of the King of Sweden.
During the Second World War, Munthe's son, Malcolm Pennington Mellor Munthe, served in the military. He worked behind enemy lines and later took part in the Allied invasion at Anzio.
Axel Munthe passed away in Stockholm at the age of 91. His body was cremated, and his ashes were scattered into the North Sea. There is a memorial plaque for him and his family at the Protestant Cemetery in Rome.
Axel Munthe's Medical Ideas
Munthe tried to avoid giving too much medicine to his patients who had mental health issues. He often suggested other methods like hypnosis and music to help them. He also helped with Louis Pasteur's research to find a rabies vaccine.
Axel Munthe's Legacy
Axel Munthe died in 1949. Several of his homes are now museums and cultural centers. He left Villa San Michele to the Swedish nation. A Swedish foundation now takes care of it. The villa is a cultural center that hosts concerts and welcomes Swedish scholars. The foundation also looks after the Mount Barbarossa bird sanctuary, which is a large area of land.
In 1980, a foundation was created to care for Hildasholm, the Munthes' Swedish home. Malcolm Munthe donated the house and its art to this foundation. It now operates as a museum. It was named a historic building in 1988 and was restored between 1995 and 1999. Besides tours, the museum also offers art classes and concerts.
Malcolm Munthe also spent much of his life after the Second World War fixing up his family's two large homes in England. His children created a charity trust that maintains both Southside and Hellens Manor. These homes are also museums and host cultural events like concerts and talks.
There have been at least two international meetings about Axel Munthe. The second one was held at Hildasholm in Leksand, Sweden, on September 13, 2003.
Axel Munthe's life was also made into a movie in 1962 called Axel Munthe, The Doctor of San Michele, based on his book.
Awards and Decorations
Honorary Commander of the Royal Victorian Order
Films
- Axel Munthe, der Arzt von San Michele, directed by Rudolf Jugert, starring O. W. Fischer (as Axel Munthe), 1962.
See also
In Spanish: Axel Munthe para niños
