The Hidden Child

A Novel

De: Louise Fein

Narrado por: Marisa Calin

An international bestseller

“The Hidden Child is a heart-wrenching depiction of a golden couple in the 1920s…. Shocking, emotive, and compelling, but ultimately a story of hope. I loved it.” -- Deborah Carr, USA Today bestselling author of The Poppy Field

In this new historical novel by the author of Daughter of the Reich, Londoners Eleanor and Edward Hamilton have it all. But the 1929 financial crash is looming, and they’re harboring a shameful secret. How far are they willing to go to protect their charmed life?

Eleanor Hamilton is happily married and mother to a beautiful four-year-old girl, Mabel. Her husband, Edward, is a leading light in the burgeoning Eugenics movement, which is designing the very ideas that will soon be embraced by Hitler.

But when Mabel develops debilitating epileptic seizures and Eleanor discovers Edward has been keeping secrets, Eleanor's world fractures. In order to save her daughter, she takes matters into her own hands.

Vividly rendered and deeply affecting, The Hidden Child is a sweeping story and a richly drawn portrait of a family torn apart by shame, deceit, and dangerous ideals.

©2021 Louise Fein (P)2021 HarperCollins Publishers

The way epilepsy was understood at that time .

I liked the characters but they didn’t converse very well with one another on their feeling.

Fascinating Subject

This book made me even more aware of the subtle bigotry that exists in our society. I found it to be very well written but the author should be careful of slang such as " big bucks. " Not something a Brit from 100 years ago would say!

Good characters

Outdated content now but written with interesting, realistic characters and context. Relatable and interesting. Discussed the support of eugenics pre WWII worldwide

Epilepsy

This book is enlightening about a man and his family and his involvement in the eugenics society in the early 1900s in Britain and the U.S. It incorporates war, PTSD, and one family’s life with a child with epilepsy. As hard as it is to hear/read about life with severe epilepsy, it is a real medical condition that still has stigmas and is still kept secret by many. It is interesting and heart breaking to learn more about life with epilepsy and the evolution of treatments. The author did a great job and the narrator is excellent!

Intriguing Plot

Very intriguing with many twists and turns. Well written and thought provoking. Seemed to be well researched as well.

Another great story by this lovely Author!

This is the second book I’ve listened to by this Author and she is now one of the most suggested to others by me. I love that you really get to know the characters ands care what happens to them. Again with this book, like the previous book, I kept thinking I knew where the story was headed but again I was wrong each turn, which I really like the surprise. The voice actress is now my favorite, I will be seeking out every book she narrates

Thought provoking

Loved the story line. Fascinating. Disliked the accents. I had to pay extra close attention to what was being said

Good story but the narration was, meh...

The story was interesting. I'm a fan of Downton Abbey and this was set around that time frame. I usually read and listen to non-fiction so this was a change and I now realize that I should probably stick to non-fiction. The narration was annoying at times. The narrator's French accent was terrible and American accent was worse. They were at times very distracting. And I cringed whenever I heard the "momma, momma" of one of the characters. I think it would have been better to buy the book.

Well written

Such a story to be told and one we should all hear. Pictorial, perfectly narrated and A beautiful description of England.

The eugenics movement and the political power behind it

Eugenics was a concept endorsed by many, one professor in particular. “The feeble minded,” and “epileptics” were seen as a problem to be solved, in part through sterilization and asylums.

Does your perspective change, when as a member of the Eugenics Society, you have a child with epilepsy?

The sidebar commentary from the inert body called epilepsy was a great addition. It added an element of what the brain was doing ( behind the eyes of consciousness and control) providing insight to those who have not intrinsically experienced epilepsy can “see behind the curtain” for some clarity within the story itself.