A History of Adoption in England & Wales 1850-1961

Gill Rossini • £19.99
Pen & Sword

Adoption is one of the most emotive and complex subjects in social and family history. Gill Rossini’s social history of adoption between 1850 and 1961 uncovers the perspectives of all those concerned in adoption: children, birth relatives, adoptive families, and all the agencies and organisations involved.

Rossini charts the transformation of the adoption process from a chaotic informal arrangement to a legal procedure. Set against the backdrop of the moral, cultural, and legal climate of the times, the contemporary voices of those who played a part in an adoption give real insights into this often turbulent period in their lives. Discover how shocking stories of baby farmers and unwanted orphans fuelled the campaign for change, and hear previously untold stories.

For those who wish to conduct their own research into an adoption, Rossini has compiled a comprehensive guide to resources.

The Betrayal of Richard III

Peter Hammond & V B Lamb • £8.99
The History Press

In this classic work, Peter Hammond and the late V B Lamb survey the life and times of Richard III and examine the contemporary evidence for the events of his reign, tracing the origins of the traditional version of his career as a murderous tyrant and its development since his death. The evident grief of the citizens of York on hearing of the death of Richard III — recording in the Council Minutes that he had been ‘piteously slane and murdered to the Grete hevynesse of this citie’ — is hardly consistent with the view of the archetypal wicked uncle who murdered his nephews, the Princes in the Tower, and there is an extraordinary discrepancy between this monster and the man as he is revealed by contemporary records. An ideal introduction to one of the greatest mysteries of English history, this new edition is revised by Peter Hammond and includes an introduction and notes.

The Secret World of the Victorian Lodging House

Joseph O’Neill • £19.99
Pen & Sword

Criminals, drifters, beggars, the homeless, immigrants, prostitutes, tramping artisans, street entertainers, abandoned children, navvies, and families fallen on hard times – a whole underclass of people on the margins of society passed through Victorian lodging houses. These places were to be found in almost every city and town and they were central to working class life. Joseph O’Neill’s fresh research into this lost world of the ‘night-time havens of the wandering tribes’ flings open the door to the 19th century lodging house and tells its stories.

Murder at the Inn

James Moore • £9.99
The History Press

In which pub was the notorious murder that led to the Kray twins becoming Britain’s most feared gangsters? Where is the hostelry in which Jack the Ripper’s victims drank? How did Burke and Hare befriend their victims in a Scottish watering hole before luring them to their deaths? What is the name of the pub where the Lord Lucan mystery first came to light? And how did a pub become the scene of the murder that led to Ruth Ellis going to the gallows? For centuries, the history of beer and pubs has gone hand in hand with some of the nation’s most despicable and fascinating crimes. Packed with grizzly murders – including fascinating little-known cases – as well as sinister stories of smuggling, robbery and sexual intrigue, Murder at the Inn is a treasure trove of dark tales linked to the best drinking haunts and historic hotels across the land.