Tatiana Schlossberg's New Yorker Essay

Tatiana Schlossberg’s personal essay is one of the few pieces published in The New Yorker to go viral. Within hours of going live, it was being read, shared and talked about around the world. Here's what the essay said, who wrote it, and why it mattered.

Who Is Tatiana Schlossberg?

Tatiana Schlossberg was an American author and environmental journalist. She is the daughter of Caroline Kennedy and Edwin Schlossberg, and the granddaughter of President John F. Kennedy. She wrote about climate change and the environment, including as a science section reporter for The New York Times and wrote a book about the environmental cost of everyday life.

What Is the Tatiana Schlossberg Essay About?

The essay was published online by the New Yorker on November 22, 2025, the anniversary of her grandfather’s assassination. Its name was “A Battle With My Blood”. It appeared under the headline “A Further Shore” in the print edition (Dec. 8 issue).

She told the audience that she had been diagnosed with acute myeloid leukaemia (AML) with a rare mutation known as inversion 3. At the time, she was 34. Within hours of giving birth to her second child in May 2024, her doctors noticed her blood count was off.

The essay then follows her treatment: chemotherapy, a stem cell transplant from her sister, a relapse, more treatment and clinical trials. She wrote candidly about her fear her young children would not remember her, and the life she shared with her husband, George Moran. She also wrote candidly about her family, and took aim at her cousin, Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., which was news in itself.

Why Did the Essay Become Viral?

Raw honesty: She wrote of dying, without false comfort or sentimentality.
Powerful timing: It came out on a date rich in family and national history.
The voice of a skilled writer: Schlossberg was a trained journalist, and her command of language gave the personal story more power.
Universal themes: Every reader understands things like parenthood, mortality, love and loss.

Schlossberg died on Dec. 30, 2025, at the age of 35, about six weeks after the essay was published. Her family announced her death via the John F. Kennedy Library Foundation. The essay is now thought of as a final, definitive work.

About The New Yorker

The New Yorker is one of the world’s most prestigious magazines, known for its long-form journalism, essays, fiction, criticism, cartoons and cultural commentary. Its reported features and personal essays frequently set the agenda for global conversations, and Schlossberg’s piece is a prime example.

What’s the New Yorker Radio Hour?

The New Yorker Radio Hour is the magazine’s weekly public-radio show and podcast, produced in partnership with WNYC Studios, and hosted by editor David Remnick. It includes interviews, reporting and storytelling, taking the magazine's journalism to listeners in audio form. If you love The New Yorker’s writing, Radio Hour is the simplest way to have that same depth of storytelling on your commute or at home.

How to Read an Essay

Search The New Yorker’s website for A Battle With My Blood. Some articles may have a paywall after a certain number of free reads, requiring a subscription for full access.

Basics of Acute Myeloid Leukaemia (AML)

AML is a cancer of the blood and the bone marrow. The inversion 3 mutation subtype that Schlossberg described is rare and is more likely to be found in older patients. Symptoms include tiredness, frequent infections and easy bruising, although, like her, some people have no obvious symptoms at first. Anyone who has concerns should speak to a doctor.

Final Thoughts

Tatiana Schlossberg’s essay is a reminder of how strong, honest writing can connect with millions of people. Whether you read it on The New Yorker’s website or keep up with the magazine’s journalism through The New Yorker Radio Hour, it’s worth your time.