Infanticide

The history of infanticide from the 16th through to the late 20th century is the subject of this volume. Collectively the contributions explore how the concealment of pregnancy birth and death particularly by unmarried women became a central preoccupation of witnesses doctors courts and legislatures concerned with suspicious infant deaths. While the emphasis is upon Britain original and stimulating accounts of infanticide accusations and trials in France Germany and South Africa provide compelling comparative analyses. Presenting a series of case studies successive chapters expose striking continuities across both time and space in the social history of infanticide. Clearly written focusing on a range of original cases and documents and addressing critical historiographical questions Infanticide will be invaluable to historians and students researching the social history of medicine law crime and gender. In addition it will appeal to lawyers doctors and others interested in understanding the historical roots of modern debates about infanticide. Language: English