The Undesirables
The Law that Locked Away a Generation
Format:Hardback
Publisher:Oneworld Publications
Published:4th Apr '24
£22.00
Available for immediate dispatch.
This hardback is available in another edition too:
- Paperback£12.99(9780861549795)
This book reveals the harrowing truth about how thousands were unjustly imprisoned by the British government, detailing their struggles and societal prejudices. The Undesirables is a poignant exploration of injustice.
In The Undesirables, Sarah Wise uncovers a dark chapter in British history, revealing how over 50,000 innocent individuals were unjustly imprisoned by the government. These detentions, sanctioned under the 1913 Mental Deficiency Act, targeted those deemed 'defective' for reasons as trivial as poverty, nonconformity, or various health conditions. The book meticulously details the lives of these individuals, many of whom were simply different, and explores the societal attitudes that allowed such injustices to persist.
The narrative delves into the personal stories of those affected, from women with children born out of wedlock to rebellious teenagers and individuals with disabilities. Forcibly removed from their families, they were confined to remote facilities, hidden away from society. Wise's extensive archival research brings these forgotten lives back to light, illustrating the profound impact of this legislation on countless families and communities.
The Undesirables serves not only as a historical account but also as a poignant reminder of the consequences of societal prejudices. By examining the intersections of class, gender, and disability, Wise highlights how these attitudes continue to influence social policy today. This compelling study invites readers to reflect on the past while considering the implications for the present and future.
'Is there any miscarriage of justice more grievous than a badly framed law? The historian Sarah Wise makes a powerful case for the prosecution in The Undesirables, a staggering study of 1913's largely forgotten Mental Deficiency Act... Wise's book bristles with injustices.' —Sunday Telegraph, *****
'Social historian Sarah Wise has written an important, shocking book in The Undesirables: The Law That Locked Away a Generation… Wise throws light on a shameful national scandal.’ —Independent, Books of the Month
'The Undesirables is as compelling as it is shocking... It is impossible not to feel outraged by this history of wasted lives. Wise does not shy away from calling to account the authorities who enforced the Mental Deficiency Act... as well as the wider public, for allowing this grave social injustice to happen.' —History Today
'Superb. The heartrending stories Sarah Wise has unearthed beggar belief… beautifully researched and truly compelling.' —Catherine Bailey, author of Black Diamonds
'You will have heard about Ireland’s Magdalene Laundries… How surprised would you be to discover that a comparable system operated in Britain during the 20th century?… Brace yourself for The Undesirables, Sarah Wise's sprawling, shocking study of the impact of the 1913 Mental Deficiency Act.' —The Times
'A masterpieceof historical research. Sarah Wise’s exposure of the ways in which we treated so many people a century ago, and still many in recent years, begs the question of who is the most morally defective.' —Danny Dorling, author of Shattered Nation
'Sarah Wise’s piercing social history of the Mental Deficiency Act... Sarah Wise demonstrates shrewdly how eugenic justifications for the Mental Deficiency Act faded and the law became a tool... The government has never offered an apology to the thousands detained. This powerful book might offer a step in that direction.' —TLS
'I have long been a fan of Sarah Wise and was eager to get my hands on The Undesirables... I found myself shaking my head in anger at the histories of people locked away under the 1913 Mental Deficiency Act. With her usual panache, Wise manages to find humanity in the darkest places and tells an important story with understanding and wit.' —Emily Cockayne, History Today, Book of the Year
ISBN: 9780861544554
Dimensions: 234mm x 153mm x 30mm
Weight: unknown
352 pages