
The Least of These
The Tragic Story of Dublin's Foundling Hospital
Mark Roe(Author)
The History Press Ltd
Will be published approx. on 5. May 2022
Book
Paperback/Softback
264 pages
978-0-7509-9876-5 (ISBN)
Description
Lying at the very edge of the eighteenth-century city, behind high walls and forbidding gates, the Dublin Foundling Hospital was long viewed with horror and suspicion. Yet, following its closure, it seemed to have slipped from the city's memory. The Least of These uncovers the story of the Hospital, from its origins as a workhouse in 1703 during the Penal Laws to its demise in 1830. Its mission: to take in the children of poor Catholics and raise them as Protestants, loyal to king and empire. This was an institution where every infant was tattooed with an identification number, where thousands of children were fed opium and where, as with many foundling hospitals, the death toll was vast.
But why did it endure for so long? And why did quite so many die? Based on original research, Mark B. Roe brings together eyewitness accounts, letters from desperate parents and individual life stories to finally bring the tragic story of Dublin's Foundling Hospital to light.
But why did it endure for so long? And why did quite so many die? Based on original research, Mark B. Roe brings together eyewitness accounts, letters from desperate parents and individual life stories to finally bring the tragic story of Dublin's Foundling Hospital to light.
Reviews / Votes
'Roe's achievement is to bring to light a very neglected part of Irish history. As a historian with a medical background, he has achieved a degree of recognition for about 127,000 souls, who otherwise would remain just a dismal statistic. I would highly recommend this book but it is not a pleasant read.''Mark B. Roe is to be congratulated on a book of first-rate history: clearly written, well organised and based, wherever possible, on primary sources, after extensive research.' -- John Kirkaldy * <i>Books Ireland Magazine</i> * 'Roe's prose is easy and accessible and he manages to insert hard data and primary sources into a narrative that keeps the reader engaged, horrified and outraged.' * <i>Who Do You Think You Are?</i> magazine * 'A horrific account wonderfully told.' * <i>History Ireland</i> *
More details
Language
English
Place of publication
Stroud
United Kingdom
Product notice
Paperback (trade)
Unsewn / adhesive bound
Illustrations
20 Illustrations, black and white
Dimensions
Height: 232 mm
Width: 158 mm
Thickness: 20 mm
Weight
431 gr
ISBN-13
978-0-7509-9876-5 (9780750998765)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Other editions
Additional editions

E-Book
05/2022
The History Press Ltd
€18.49
Available for download
Person
MARK B. ROE is a medical practitioner and qualified historian.