Jane Hawking facts for kids

Jane Beryl Wilde Hawking Jones was born on March 29, 1944. She is an English writer and teacher. She was married to the famous scientist Stephen Hawking for 30 years. They later divorced, but she continued to support him.

Early Life and Learning

Jane grew up in St Albans, a town in Hertfordshire, England. Her parents were George and Beryl Wilde. She was raised in the Church of England and is an active Christian.

Meeting Stephen Hawking

Jane studied languages at Westfield College, which is part of the University of London. In 1962, she met Stephen Hawking at a party through friends from college. In 1963, Stephen was diagnosed with motor neurone disease, also known as ALS. This illness affects the nerves and muscles. Even though she knew his life might be shorter and he would face many challenges, Jane and Stephen got engaged in 1964. They married in 1965 in their hometown of St Albans. They had three children: Robert (born in 1967), Lucy (born in 1970), and Timothy (born in 1979).

Earning Her PhD

Jane worked hard on her doctoral thesis for many years. A doctoral thesis is a long research paper needed to earn a PhD degree. In April 1981, she earned her PhD in medieval Spanish poetry. She wanted to get her PhD to have her own academic identity at the University of Cambridge.

Life Challenges and Faith

Jane and Stephen Hawking separated in 1990 and divorced five years later. In 1997, Jane married a musician named Jonathan Hellyer Jones. However, she continued to support Stephen through his health problems. In her 2007 book, Travelling to Infinity, she wrote that after Stephen's second divorce, they were able to spend time together again, like old times.

During her marriage to Stephen, Jane faced many challenges as his illness got worse. She experienced depression. In an interview in 2004, she said that her Christian faith gave her strength and hope during those difficult times. She found it interesting that her faith helped her support Stephen, even though he was well-known for not believing in God.

Writing and Films

In 1999, Jane wrote a book about her first marriage called Music to Move the Stars: A Life with Stephen. This book was later used to create a TV movie in 2004 called Hawking. This film showed Stephen's early years as a student at Cambridge University and how his relationship with Jane began. After Stephen separated from his second wife, he and Jane developed a good working relationship.

Her Books

In 2009, an updated version of her book was released with a new title: Travelling to Infinity: My Life with Stephen. This book was later turned into the famous and award-winning film The Theory of Everything. After the movie came out, Jane talked about her life on a BBC radio show called Woman's Hour in January 2015.

Books by Jane Hawking

Jane Hawking has written several books, sharing her experiences and stories:

• At Home In France: Guide to Buying and Renovating Property In France Allegro Publications 1994 ISBN: 0952308002
• Music to Move the Stars: A Life with Stephen Macmillan Publishers, London 1999 ISBN: 0-333-74686-4
• Travelling to Infinity: My Life with Stephen Alma Books 2007 ISBN: 1-84688-065-3
• Silent Music Alma Books 2016 ISBN: 9781846884122
• Cry to Dream Again Alma Books 2018 ISBN: 9781846884375

See also

In Spanish: Jane Wilde Hawking para niños