The Hidden Child

Description

*An International Bestseller from the author of People Like Us, shortlisted for the RSL Christopher Bland Prize and the RNA Historical Romantic Novel Award 2021* From the outside, Eleanor and Edward Hamilton have the perfect life, but they're harbouring a secret that threatens to fracture their entire world. London, 1929. Eleanor Hamilton is a dutiful mother, a caring sister and an adoring wife to a celebrated war hero. Her husband, Edward, is a pioneer in the eugenics movement. The Hamiltons are on the social rise, and it looks as though their future is bright. When Mabel, their young daughter, begins to develop debilitating seizures, they have to face an uncomfortable truth: Mabel has epilepsy - one of the 'undesirable' conditions that Edward campaigns against. Forced to hide their daughter away so as to not jeopardise Edward's life's work, the couple must confront the truth of their past - and the secrets that have been buried. Will Eleanor and Edward be able to fight for their family? Or will the truth destroy them? 'Shocking, emotive, and compelling, but ultimately a story of hope. I loved it' - Deborah Carr, bestselling author of The Poppy Field 'A poignant rendering of love and motherhood, human frailty and redemption, exquisitely told against the backdrop of the unthinkable... Fein deftly takes the reader back to a terrifying turning point in history and, with grace and compassion, reminds us of the importance of standing up for what we believe in our souls to be true' - Judithe Little, bestselling author of The Chanel Sisters 'The Hidden Child is the thought-provoking and compelling tale of one family and the battle to survive their daughter's illness. A reminder that ordinary people can so often be responsible for some of the most shocking episodes in history' - Louise Hare, bestselling author of This Lovely City 'An astonishing story about an aspect of British history that's long been swept under the carpet - surprising, moving and poignant' - Frances Quinn, bestselling author of The Smallest Man 'I was completely under its spell in this powerful, engaging, and ultimately heart-warming story. Bravo, Louise you've done it again!' - Gill Thompson, author of The Oceans Between Us 'The Hidden Child is a fascinating and thought-provoking story which is hard to put down' - Caroline Bishop, author of The Other Daughter 'The Hidden Child is a story of hope and redemption, of humanity and growth... both intimate and universal in scope. I loved this compelling read and its complex, flawed, but deeply human characters' - Addison Armstrong, author of The Light of Luna Park

Louise Fein is the author of People Like Us, her debut novel. It is a story of forbidden love and the brainwashing of a nation, set in 1930's Leipzig, and was inspired by the experiences of her family who fled Leipzig as refugees in 1933. The novel has been published in thirteen territories and has been shortlisted for the RSL Christopher Bland Prize 2021, as well as for the RNA Historical Novel of the Year award 2021. Her second novel, The Hidden Child, is set in 1920's England and tells the story of a couple who are ardent supporters of the burgeoning Eugenics movement, until their own daughter turns out to be not quite perfect. She holds an MA in creative writing from St Mary's University, London, and lives in Surrey with her family.

I am a huge fan of Louise Fein's writing. In The Hidden Child, just as in her wonderful debut, People Like Us, Louise skilfully reels us into the world of the novel, with meticulously researched period detail, and flawed but highly sympathetic characters. Intertwining with this central theme are fascinating threads about female liberation and the growing fear of financial ruin. Louise's story is wonderfully spun through prose that is at times lyrical and poetic but always clear and forward moving. I was completely under its spell in this powerful, engaging, and ultimately heart-warming story. Bravo, Louise you've done it again! -- Gill Thompson A heart-wrenching depiction of a golden couple in the 1920s when their perfect life is turned on its axis and shows the lengths a mother will go to when forced to protect her daughter from her ambitious husband and his twisted beliefs at a time when women's voices were not heard. Shocking, emotive, and compelling, but ultimately a story of hope. I loved it -- Deborah Carr A poignant rendering of love and motherhood, human frailty and redemption, exquisitely told against the backdrop of the unthinkable. A heroine for the ages, Eleanor Hamilton's predicament will tear your heart apart while her resolve is a testament to the power of intuition. Fein deftly takes the reader back to a terrifying turning point in history and, with grace and compassion, reminds us of the importance of standing up for what we believe in our souls to be true -- Judithe Little A story of hope and redemption, of humanity and growth... both intimate and universal in scope. I loved this compelling read and its complex, flawed, but deeply human characters' -- Addison Armstrong The thought-provoking and compelling tale of one family and the battle to survive their daughter's illness. A reminder that ordinary people can so often be responsible for some of the most shocking episodes in history -- Louise Hare A powerful, thought-provoking, and often heart-wrenching read * Beauty and Lace * Fein's story wakes us up to the challenge of watching what narratives we can come to accept and normalise * Mayo News *