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. 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. The Baby Farmers: A Chilling Tale of Missing Babies, Shameful Secrets and Murder in 19th Century Australia Kindle Edition by Annie Cossins (Author) Format: Kindle Edition 46 ratings See all formats and editions Kindle 9.99 Read with Our Free App Paperback 11.97 19 Used from 4.95 12 New from 11. 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. In the weeks that followed, 12 more babies were found buried in the backyards of other houses in which the Makins had lived.

'The book's power stems from its devastating details Cossins establishes a tone so vivid it's reminiscent of Dickens.' Publishers Weekly starred review 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. This resulted in the most infamous trial in Australian legal history, and exposed a shocking. 'The book's power stems from its devastating details Cossins establishes a tone so vivid it's reminiscent of Dickens. In the weeks that followed, 12 more babies were found buried in the backyards of other houses in which the Makins had lived. 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 Baby Farmers by Annie Cossins