The Hidden Child by Louise Fein is a brilliant read. It’s a historical novel set with a mix of real and fictional characters.
England 1928 – Edward Hamilton is a returned war hero. A man of science and a leading member of the Eugenics Society. He is a successful lecturer. He has wealth, a flat in London and a country house. A beautiful wife Eleanor and daughter Mabel.
Eleanor Hamilton loves her husband. She is proud of his work, she was his research assistant. She loves Brook End, their country residence. She is devoted to their daughter and she’s excited to be expecting their second child.
They couldn’t be happier, their life was perfect. Until…
Four year old Mabel has one, and then another, and another seizure. It is with shock they learn she has epilepsy.
This is a story of a father who demands his daughter be hidden-institutionalised. She is not to be mentioned again. No one must know! If this got out, the damage it would do to his reputation, his case studies and his work with the Eugenics Society.
It is also a story of a mother who follows her instincts and her love for her daughter, who will do anything to bring Mabel back to them.
It is a powerful, thought provoking, and often heart wrenching read. An intoxicating read.
The Eugenics movement believe that any weakness should be bred out of the population. Using sterilisation programs and institutionalising sufferers.
Louise Fein says that while researching her novel “People like Us” which is set in Nazi Germany, she carried out research into the science of eugenics. She was rather shocked to find that Nazi Germany took its lead in this area from the widespread and accepted eugenic ideas circulating in the UK and US.
Louise Fein shares that this novel was inspired by her own experience as a parent of a child with epilepsy. She drew on her own experience and research. She writes “the sad fact is, had our daughter been born 100 years ago, there is no doubt that she would have been institutionalised from a young age and in all likelihood, would have spent the rest of her life incarcerated.”
Sobering thoughts about practices in the past.
The Author’s Notes at the end of the book are as fascinating as the story.
I was already a fan, having read “People Like Us” which is brilliant and a must read for every one interested in history and forbidden love.
Thankyou to Head of Zeus and Beauty and Lace for this opportunity to read this amazing book.
Author: Louise Fein
ISBN: 9780063117921
Copy courtesy of Head of Zeus
A selection of our Beauty and Lace Club members are reading The Hidden Child by Louise Fein. You can read their comments below, or add your own review. Sign up for our club here.

I love to read, any book on any topic. I now love ebooks as they are easier to store, I was running out of bookshelves! My other interests are family, gardening and our beautiful King Charles spaniel dog who is my reading companion.
I found this book difficult to read due to my younger sisters journey through her diagnosis with Epilepsy,
which has been backdated to her young childhood.
The young girl featured in this book, Mabel was 4 years of age whn Epilesy impacted her life.
This horriffic disease took a vibrant happy outgoing young girl and destroyed her.
In the 1920’s, people with major health and mental problems were incarcerated/admitted to hospitals and/or sanitariums.
They were hidden away to stop the embarrasement for the families.
The struggle the parents went through trying to do what was best for their daughter was heartbreaking, and frustrating at times.
This has been researched well and touches on personal experience of Epilepsy.
Thank you Beauty and Lace and Head of Zeus for the chance to read this thought provoking book.
I will be keeping my eye out for future books by Louise Fein.
This won’t be an easy book to read for anyone but it explores the birth of Eugenics in the 1920s. Edward and Eleanor are married and have one beautiful 4 year old daughter called Mabel. Edward is head of the Eugenics society whilst Eleanor is devoted to raising their daughter with another child on the way. When Mabel starts having seizures, Edward decides to hide his child away from the world.
It is a heartbreaking story whilst also being an interesting look into the theory that helped to shape Hitler mindset 20 years later.
This book reminds me about the Lindbergh Kidnappings conspiracy theory which also includes a Eugenics theory.
The Hidden Child by Louise Fein is a touching Historical fiction novel with the strength of true love even when faced with seemingly insurmountable obstacles.
England, 1928. Eleanor and Edward Hamilton are living the perfect life, a happy marriage, a beautiful 4-year-old daughter Mabel, wealth and status. Edward is a renowned war hero and currently leads the burgeoning Eugenics movement, enhancing the health and wealth of Great Britain.
Eleanor is a devoted wife and mother, living in a charming house in the English countryside, and owning a London apartment, she tends to daily life and her daughter and supports her husband’s work. All that came crashing down when Mabel started having seizures, when thewy became reoccurring the Hamilton’s seek medical advice and Mabel is diagnosed with a rare form of epilepsy.
Edward’s concern is his career, he is dedicated to his profession and willing to do what he can to push for sterilisation and eradicate illness, which includes a legislation. His aim is to improve the genetic quality of the human population and with his daughter recently diagnosed he is adamant her illness must be kept a secret.
Seeing her daughter suffer, Eleanor questions her support in the eugenics movement. As she looks for ways to help her daughter she is shocked of the limited treatments provided. While she looks at other alternatives she uncovers a secret Edward has been hiding for years. How will their marriage ever survive? If he cannot accept her daughter as she is can she keep her a secret forever.
The Hidden Child is a wonderful novel, beautifully written and filled with an array of interesting characters who learn and teach each other about trust, love, prejudice, and discrimination. Eleanor is courageous and determined to help her daughter no matter what stands in her way. I particularly enjoyed being educated by the story, as well as twists and turns.
Fein shows her well researched and personal experience of having a child with epilepsy through this story, not only the horrors of our past, but also the hope we have when we choose to treat others fairly and equally despite of their disability or chronic health condition.
Overall, a great novel, highly recommended, and thoroughly enjoyable.
Thank you, Beauty and Lace and Head of Zeus for the opportunity to read and review.
The Hidden Child (ebook) by Louise Fein was a little difficult to get into but was a real eye opener in regards to what life was like in the 1920s and how some medical conditions were shameful, it really makes you appreciate the little things we have now and grateful for all those that helped give us a better today. Yes it’s a story but very relatable to the real world, don’t give up on this book it’s worth pushing through the first few chapters.