The most common murder victim in 19th century Australia was a baby, and the most common perpetrator was a woman. Annie Cossins pieces together the fascinating story of the most infamous legal trial in Australia to reveal an underworld of struggling mothers, unwanted babies, and a society that preferred to turn a blind eye.'The book's power stems from its devastating details; Cossins establishes a tone so vivid it's reminiscent of Dickens.'Publishers WeeklyIn October 1892, a one-month-old baby boy was found buried in the backyard of Sarah and John Makin, two wretchedly poor baby farmers in inner Sydney. In the weeks that followed, 12 more babies were found buried in the backyards of other houses in which the Makins had lived. This resulted in the most infamous trial in Australian legal history, and exposed a shocking underworld of desperate mothers, drugged and starving babies, and a black market in the sale and murder of children.Annie Cossins pieces together a dramatic and tragic tale with larger than life characters: theatrical Sarah Makin; her smooth-talking husband, John; her disloyal daughter, Clarice; diligent Constable James Joyce, with curious domestic arrangements of his own; and a network of baby farmers stretching across the city. It's a glimpse into a society that preferred to turn a blind eye to the fate of its most vulnerable members, only a century ago.'A very moving book.[It] brings to life the awful poverty and the immoral'morality'of the times. conditions which broke that most sacred and powerful bond - between mother and baby - and broke the hearts of impoverished young women.'- Gabrielle Lord'A very readable and accessible history of a terrible time. The writer has a passionate grasp of her subject and her time.'- Kerry Greenwood'Cossins is both relentless in her search, and engrossing in her writing'- Lucy Sussex

Annie Cossins

Allen & Unwin Australia

Sydney: Allen & Unwin

House of Books

Trade paperback edition, Sydney, 2013

Sydney, New South Wales, 2013

Saint Leonards, Chicago, 2014

Australia, Australia

Main, PT, 2013

Main, 2014

[curator]associate-francis-boyer@archive.org[/curator][date]20180724204409[/date]

Record machine-generated from publisher information.
Includes bibliographical references and index.

Annotation The most common murder victim in 19th century Australia was a baby, and the most common perpetrator was a woman. Annie Cossins pieces together the fascinating story of the most infamous legal trial in Australia to reveal an underworld of struggling mothers, unwanted babies, and a society that preferred to turn a blind eye. In October 1892, a one-month-old baby boy was found buried in the backyard of Sarah and John Makin, two wretchedly poor baby farmers in inner Sydney. In the weeks that followed, 12 more babies were found buried in the backyards of other houses in which the Makins had lived. This resulted in the most infamous trial in Australian legal history, and exposed a shocking underworld of desperate mothers, drugged and starving babies, and a black market in the sale and murder of children. Annie Cossins pieces together a dramatic and tragic tale with larger than life characters: theatrical Sarah Makin, her smooth-talking husband John, her disloyal daughter, Clarice, diligent Constable James Joyce with curious domestic arrangements of his own, and a network of baby farmers stretching across the city. It's a glimpse into a society that preferred to turn a blind eye to the fate of its most vulnerable members, only a century ago

ix, 293 pages, [12] pages of plates : 24 cm
In October 1892, a one-month-old baby boy was found buried in the backyard of Sarah and John Makin, two wretchedly poor baby farmers in inner Sydney. In the weeks that followed, 12 more babies were found buried in the backyards of other houses in which the Makins had lived. This resulted in the most infamous trial in Australian legal history, and exposed a shocking underworld of desperate mothers, drugged and starving babies, and a black market in the sale and murder of children. Annie Cossins pieces together a dramatic and tragic tale with larger-than-life characters: theatrical Sarah Makin, her smooth-talking husband John, her disloyal daughter, Clarice, diligent Constable James Joyce with curious domestic arrangements of his own, and a network of baby farmers stretching across the city. It's a glimpse into a society that preferred to turn a blind eye to the fate of its most vulnerable members, only a century ago
Record machine-generated from publisher information
pt. 1. Who were the Makins? -- pt. 2. Digging up the baby farmers' secrets -- pt. 3. Trials, appeals and various petitions -- pt. 4. Sarah Makin, reformed woman
Includes bibliographical references and index

In October 1892, A One-month-old Baby Boy Was Found Buried In The Backyard Of Sarah And John Makin, Two Wretchedly Poor Baby Farmers In Inner Sydney. In The Weeks That Followed, 12 More Babies Were Found Buried In The Backyards Of Other Houses In Which The Makins Had Lived. This Resulted In The Most Infamous Trial In Australian Legal History, And Exposed A Shocking Underworld Of Desperate Mothers, Drugged And Starving Babies, And A Black Market In The Sale And Murder Of Children. Annie Cossins Pieces Together A Dramatic And Tragic Tale With Larger-than-life Characters: Theatrical Sarah Makin, Her Smooth-talking Husband John, Her Disloyal Daughter, Clarice, Diligent Constable James Joyce With Curious Domestic Arrangements Of His Own, And A Network Of Baby Farmers Stretching Across The City. It's A Glimpse Into A Society That Preferred To Turn A Blind Eye To The Fate Of Its Most Vulnerable Members, Only A Century Ago. Pt. 1. Who Were The Makins? -- Pt. 2. Digging Up The Baby Farmers' Secrets -- Pt. 3. Trials, Appeals And Various Petitions -- Pt. 4. Sarah Makin, Reformed Woman. Annie Cossins. Record Machine-generated From Publisher Information. Includes Bibliographical References And Index.

2023-06-28