Book review: Children in Care 1834-1929: The lives of destitute, orphaned, and deserted children By Rosemary Steer

As a non-historian who has become immersed in family history research and the history of care services, I found this book fascinating. I appreciated the clear writing, depth of archival research, meticulous referencing, and advice on further reading. Central to the book is Steer's study of the lives of more than 300 children who were in the care of a local charity in the village of Dickleburgh in Norfolk, England. That charity was taken over by The Waifs and Strays Society, which ultimately became The Children's Society. Steer's research is compiled from a variety of sources, including charity and poor law records, census returns, newspapers, and published personal accounts.