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A child for keeps? : the history of adoption in England,
1918-1945
Jenny Keating
New York : Palgrave Macmillan, 2009
ISBN: 9780230517882
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Book description
This book on the history of adoption in the first half of the
twentieth century concentrates on the interwar years and the Second World
War. It looks at the growing popularity of adoption after 1918 and the
formation of adoption societies during the 1920s. These led the pressure for
the legalisation of adoption, which had no official status prior to 1926.
Keating charts how the first adoption law only made adoption legal, but did
not regulate it, and how the 1930s saw a growing campaign for reform because
of the casual and even abusive practices of some of those organising
adoptions. Legislation was passed but delayed by the onset of war and the
new regulations were not brought in until 1943 when the Government could no
longer ignore the widespread informal adoption of the illegitimate babies of
single women, and wives whose husbands were away. The backdrop to the book
is the increasing emphasis on secrecy in adoption, providing fresh insights
as to why the current system is as rigid as it is.
About the author
Jenny Keating has degrees from Sussex University, UK,
and Monash University, Australia. She has been a museum curator,
teacher, advice worker and journalist, and while living in Australia,
worked as a commissioned historian. Since returning to the UK, she has
completed a DPhil and is currently researching the history of
history-teaching in schools.
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