Through the early twentieth century, the British Government locked away over 50,000 innocent people. Their 'crimes'? Being poor and unyielding. This is their story. A HISTORY TODAY BOOK OF THE YEAR 'Staggering... Wise's book bristles with injustices.' Sunday Telegraph, ***** By 1950, an estimated 50,000 people had been deemed 'defective' by the British government and detained indefinitely under the 1913 Mental Deficiency Act. Their 'crimes' were various: women with children born out of wedlock; rebellious teenagers caught ...
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Through the early twentieth century, the British Government locked away over 50,000 innocent people. Their 'crimes'? Being poor and unyielding. This is their story. A HISTORY TODAY BOOK OF THE YEAR 'Staggering... Wise's book bristles with injustices.' Sunday Telegraph, ***** By 1950, an estimated 50,000 people had been deemed 'defective' by the British government and detained indefinitely under the 1913 Mental Deficiency Act. Their 'crimes' were various: women with children born out of wedlock; rebellious teenagers caught shoplifting; those with epilepsy, hearing impairments and chronic illnesses who had struggled in school; and many who were simply 'different'. Forcibly removed from their families and confined to a shadow world of specialist facilities in the countryside, they were hidden away and forgotten - out of sight, out of mind. Through painstaking archival research, award-winning historian Sarah Wise shines a light on this shameful chapter. Piecing together the lives irrevocably changed by this devastating legislation, The Undesirables provides a compelling study of how early twentieth-century attitudes to class, gender and disability resulted in a nationwide scandal - and how they continue to shape social policy to this day. 'The heartrending stories Sarah Wise has unearthed beggar belief... beautifully researched and truly compelling.' Catherine Bailey, author of Black Diamonds
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Add this copy of The Undesirables: The Law that Locked Away a Generation to cart. $23.94, like new condition, Sold by GreatBookPrices rated 4.0 out of 5 stars, ships from Columbia, MD, UNITED STATES, published 2025 by Oneworld Publications.
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Fine. B-format paperback. In Stock. 100% Money Back Guarantee. Brand New, Perfect Condition, allow 4-14 business days for standard shipping. To Alaska, Hawaii, U.S. protectorate, P.O. box, and APO/FPO addresses allow 4-28 business days for Standard shipping. No expedited shipping. All orders placed with expedited shipping will be cancelled. Over 3, 000, 000 happy customers.
Add this copy of The Undesirables: The Law that Locked Away a Generation to cart. $24.18, new condition, Sold by GreatBookPrices rated 4.0 out of 5 stars, ships from Columbia, MD, UNITED STATES, published 2025 by Oneworld Publications.
Choose your shipping method in Checkout. Costs may vary based on destination.
Seller's Description:
New. B-format paperback. In Stock. 100% Money Back Guarantee. Brand New, Perfect Condition, allow 4-14 business days for standard shipping. To Alaska, Hawaii, U.S. protectorate, P.O. box, and APO/FPO addresses allow 4-28 business days for Standard shipping. No expedited shipping. All orders placed with expedited shipping will be cancelled. Over 3, 000, 000 happy customers.
Add this copy of Undesirables to cart. $24.19, new condition, Sold by Kennys.ie rated 4.0 out of 5 stars, ships from Galway, IRELAND, published 2025 by Oneworld Publications.
