The Foundling is the much anticipated second book from Stacey Hall, author of last years bestseller The Familiars. Like the first book, this book has two very strong female lead characters, and again the idea of motherhood is prevalent. That is where the similarities end though. Set in mid eighteenth century Georgian England, Bessie Blight finds herself pregnant, the father dead, so has no choice but to take her baby daughter, Clara, to The Foundling Hospital. Over six years later , Bessie saves the money required to pay for her daughter’s care and take her back, only to find she is no longer there. And so starts the mystery of what happened to Bessie’s daughter, and brings Bessie in to the world of Alexandra, locked away in her town house with her daughter Charlotte. Full of historical detail and wonderful characters, this is an intriguing and thought provoking read.

There are many contrasts in this book, between, social situations, family etc, and none so apparent as the two main characters, Bessie and Alexandra. Bessie lost her mother young, and lives with her father and brother in two rooms on Ludgate Hill. It is cold, and dark with no home comforts to speak off, but is home to Bessie, a place that has happy memories of her mother ingrained, in the walls. In contrast Alexandra is a rich widow and lives in a town house in Bloomsbury, with her daughter and servants. Where Bessie has freedom, Alexandra is trapped in her home, frightened of going outside, Bessie wants her daughter, loves her although she doesn’t have her, whereas Alexandra has no maternal feeling, but has money for luxuries. These circumstances open questions of what motherhood means, and is it better to have love, freedom but be poor, or have all the luxuries money can buy, but no maternal love and not being allowed outside.

Stacey Halls writes with such insight and understanding to the social history of the eighteenth century. The Foundling Hospital was a place of hope for mothers who could not keep their baby for any reason, a place they knew their baby would be cared for, and, if at a later date they are in better circumstances they can reclaim their child. But it is never that simple, and the idea of it being a lottery, where the mother and baby’s fate are in the hands of a coloured ball seems dreadful and cruel; not all babies could be taken in, so some were sent away leaving the mothers with a difficult decision. Not only did these mothers face this uncertainty, it was enacted in front of the rich beneficiaries, like a social spectacle; the poor being exploited by the rich. Stacey Hall’s brings the stench, and dirt of London to life, the poor tenements with children running barefoot and wild, the multi cultural society all trying to make a living, and the bustle of the markets. I loved this attention to detail, it brought the book even more alive for me.

The Foundling is an insightful, accomplished and intriguing read. Stacey Halls captures the eighteenth century beautifully in her writing and also in her characters. This story, of two very different women, in very different circumstances went to my heart, divided by class but united by a young child their story is engaging, riveting and wholly captivating. This has the perfect mix of historical fact and fiction, and is another stunning read, I can’t wait to see what she writes next.

I was a huge fan of this author’s first book so I couldn’t wait to see what she’d come up with next. I wasn’t disappointed as this is historical fiction at its finest!

Firstly I love books that manage to include real historical details into the story as it’s very enjoyable to look up extra information on the internet. The realisation that The Foundling Hospital actually existed and people were in the awful situation described at the beginning of the book was incredibly heart wrenching. Even worse that rich people,who could have helped, used to buy tickets to enjoy watching people in such a desperate situation is mind blowing and I really can’t believe it used to happen!

The author has clearly done a lot of research and I enjoyed reading about all the little details that helped bring the era to life. It was interesting to read about the stark differences between the classes at that time and how little help was available for the poor.

Overall I thought this was a highly emotional, absorbing read which I flew through in a couple of hours as I wanted to find out what would happen next. I enjoyed following the believable characters and trying to work out what had happened. As you can probably guess from the blurb it is a very emotional story and I often found myself getting teary whilst reading. I’m very thankful that society has moved on and we have different attitudes now.

Huge thanks to Tracy for inviting me onto the blog tour and to Zaffre for my copy of this book via Netgalley.

Bess Bright Knew who the father to her illegitimate baby was but he had unexpectedly died before Clara had been born. the only trace she had of him had been the whalebone piece he had given her, one half having his initials on the other had hers. Bess lived at home with her widowed father and there was no way she could possibly keep the baby. Clara was taken to The Foundling hospital on the day she had been born, by her mother and grandfather, to be raised by them, taught a trade and eventually work for her keep. For entertainment, the wealthy could pay to watch a lottery-type entry for the babies to be chosen at random for a place at the Foundling Church. The unlucky ones were turned away and likely starve or become ill and die through poverty.
Clara saved every penny she could until she could buy her daughter back when she was able to work. Clara was now six. When she returned to the Foundling Church, Clara had already been collected the day after Bess had left her by her the register said. Her child was gone. A doctor, who she met at the Foundling church organised a child caring job for Bess to a wealthy widow.
The child and Bess hit it off straight away with a natural way that the widow had never had with her daughter. The young widow was petrified of everything outside due to trauma she had suffered, this then had imprisoned the little girl in the house too.
What a superbly written story. Set in 1754 I felt everything, could smell everything and saw everything clearly. Stacey Halls take you there with her writing, the language she uses, the hardships and the hunger. Even lifting your skirts to pee in the street had a knack to it. Life wasn't easy whether you were 6 or 46. The story is firstly told by Bess then also by the young widow. Money makes the difference between life and death and whether anyone believes you or not. A heart-wrenching tale.
I wish to thank NetGalley and the publisher for an e=copy of this book which I have reviewed honestly.

Thank you to Tracy Fenton for my invitation to the tour and to Zaffre Books for my copy of the book via Net Galley in return for a fair and honest review.

The book begins with Bess going to the Foundling Hospital hoping that her baby Clara will be taken and cared for.

I had not heard of The Foundling Hospital before and as a mother I found the first chapters very emotional as poor Bess has to give birth and hand over her baby and then go back to work in the fish market.

It is great story and the author writes so beautifully to set the scene of Bess’s everyday life.

The story jumps forward six years and Bess is back at The Foundling Hospital to collect her child Clara. There is a fee to pay if you collect your child and Bess has saved up half a years wages to pay it. When she gets in to the hospital she is told that her daughter was collected by her Mother on the day after Bess dropped her off. Bess vows to find her whatever it takes.

This is an intriguing book and I loved the historical side of the story and it made me investigate The Foundling Hospital further and I always love that in a book a topic that inspires me to read more about the subject.

A superb 5* read that is already up there in my favourite reads of the year. I literally read this in a sitting as I just couldn't put it down and keep recommending it as it was so memorable.

Bess is a desperate unmarried mother who works alongside her father in the market to help keep her family afloat. Her brother tells her about The Foundling and this is where her desperate journey begins with her newborn child. I had never heard of The Foundling hospital before reading this book and would now love to know more.

The characters are well described and so vivid that they jump off of the pages. The story is set in Pre-Victorian London and is a sensory overload of smells, noises and squalor. I really loved the story and found myself further absorbed the more it unfolded and was so sad to reach the end as I had truly loved losing myself in the story.

 A truly addictive read that just pulls you in brimming with fantastic characters. It is beautifully written and a story that will stay with me, it was so memorable with a stunning cover that looks gorgeous on my book shelf.

This book had me gripped from the beginning, what would happen to the baby if she wasn’t accepted into the foundling hospital? – how would Bess get the money together to get her back and how would she cope?

I did feel slightly disappointed at the time of reading that there wasn’t much of this period of time told within the story, within 2 chapters of dropping the baby off 6 years had passed and she was ready to pick her up!

However things weren’t as easy at that for poor Bess, when she went to pick her now 6 year old girl up, she was told that she had already been picked up the day after she was dropped off, and so the search for her begins.

With not much to go on Bess is a little bit lost and confused, will she ever find her daughter again?

I don’t really want to give anymore of the plot points away because not knowing what was going to happen is part of what had me so gripped and made it so I couldn’t put the book down.

The book was so atmospheric that I almost felt like I was there, I felt the warmth of Mrs Callards house, but at the same time imagining how cold Bess’ house was actually made my joints hurt and want to get curled up in the blanket.

I loved all of the characters for different reasons, but I did find myself having a soft spot for Mrs Callard.

This story shows that there is no end to a mother’s love and she will go to the ends of the earth to find her again, but also showed the other side that a mother can sometimes do the wrong thing in order to protect her child.

Everyone should read this book, it really was beautiful.

❤️🐧

Stacey Halls has done it again....another stunning story that I couldn't get enough of. Her writing has this wonderful way of picking you up and transporting you back in time. I could vividly feel each and every moment. Smells and sights came alive on the pages before my eyes and I felt steadfast in London of 1754 and what a time that was to. The narrative captured this moment of history in real vivid glory and Stacey's extraordinary way of bringing the past to life added something special to this heartfelt story.

A mother's love knows no bounds and boy did this story portray that in spades. Bess's plight was heartbreaking and desperation was the driving force behind her narrative. As far as characters go she was exceptional and I found I couldn't put the book down as the pages turned themselves to get to those all important answers at the end. But let us not forget Alexandra Callard here....what a complex and confusing character to say the least. She had me baffled, angry, moved and finally brought round to acceptance by the end but I loved this range of emotions brought out by one character. Stacey certainly knows how to fully form a world of the past and each and every character added something of importance to this story.

Having never heard of The Foundling I was gripped with this element and found it tragic and moving beyond measure. The research eased its way nearly into the storyline to elevate and educate the reader of these heartbreaking glimpses of the past. All in all this book was moving and magical in turn. Well done Stacey on yet another superb story. I'm a huge fan.

Bess gives birth to her daughter, Clara, but as an unmarried woman from a poor background she makes the heartbreaking decision to leave her baby at the Foundling Hospital. She intends to collect her once her situation improves…..hopefully.

It takes Bess 6 years, but she has finally saved enough money to be able to collect Clara. However, when she arrives she is told the baby had been collected by its mother the day after she had been left there.

Utterly distraught, Bess can not understand who would have taken her baby and why…

Will Bess ever see her daughter again?

Well, what can I say? This is beautifully written historical fiction at its finest. It tells of the differences in social status, the huge gap between the wealthy and the poor and the challenges they face on a daily basis. It also tells of motherhood and just how far a mother will go for her child.

Both heartbreaking and heartwarming.

If you love historical fiction with an emotional heart, you’ll adore this.

Thank you to the publishers and NetGalley for a free eARC of the ebook. This is my honest, unbiased review.

This book was so amazing that I couldn't put it down and read most of it in a day! This is a beautiful piece of historical fiction, very evocative of the times.

When Bess finds out she is pregnant and the father has died, she realises that she cannot keep the baby. Heartbroken, she leaves her child at the Foundling Hospital in London and vows she will retrieve her as soon as she can. She leaves her with a token - half a heart made of whalebone - all she has of the child's father.

Six years later, full of trepidation, she goes back to the Foundling Hospital with money saved up to regain her child. She is sick with fear that her daughter may have died in the interim. However, when she arrives at the Hospital, she is shocked to find that the daughter she gave up was apparently claimed the day after she was left, and apparently by her!

When Bess has collected her thoughts she goes back to the Hospital to find someone who can solve mystery, perhaps someone who can remember the person who took her daughter, and there meets Doctor Mead, a very kindly young Doctor - grandson of the Doctor Mead who started the Foundling Hospital.

Meanwhile on the more affluent side of town lives a young widow who is a good friend of Doctor Mead. She has lost both her parents and husband and is so traumatised that she rarely goes out except to Church once a week with her daughter. Doctor Mead suggests that she should employ a nursemaid for her daughter to give her more freedom and someone else to talk to besides the servers.

The subsequent repercussions affect all their lives, and make for extremely compelling reading.

I have a little confession to make. Although I have Stacey’s debut novel on my ever growing ‘to be read’ mountain, I haven’t actually read it yet. What a mistake to make as a character from ‘Allo Allo’ would say. I am a book geek and I also love reading historical fiction. Now I admit, ‘The Foundling’ is set during an era I know very little about and it is a little way out of my comfort zone. They do say that a change is as good as a rest and so I eagerly made the cup of tea, grabbed my book and settled down to read the book. Oh boy, ‘The Foundling’ was one hell of an emotive read and then some.
It took me a little while to get into the story, which has more to do with the fact that I was tired when I started to read the book than anything else. However once I got into the story that was it, I was away. I wasn’t able to read the book over the course of a day because things like life got in the way but I did manage to read the book over the course of a few days. I felt drawn to Bess and I just had to keep reading to discover what happened to her and whether or not she got her Clara back. The pages turned increasingly quickly as my desperation to find out what happened steadily grew and grew. I would say that I raced through the latter half of the book.
‘The Foundling’ is well written, well plotted and well researched. I knew a little about foundlings and what happened to them but I didn’t know a lot. I certainly felt as though this book gave me an insight into what happened when foundlings were abandoned and/ or found. The author certainly knows how to draw you into this gripping story. Once she has your attention, Stacey will not let it go without a fight. Stacey writes so realistically and she uses such vivid descriptions that I literally did feel as though I had borrowed Dr. Who’s Tardis and I had been transported back to the 18th Century. I also felt as though I was part of the story myself..
In short, ‘The Foundling’ was an emotive and deeply moving story. I would definitely recommend this book to other readers. Now I know just how fabulous an author Stacey is, I will definitely be reading ‘The Familiars’ just as soon as I can. The score on the Ginger Book Geek board is a very well deserved 4* out of 5*.

Having raved on (in fact, I'm still raving) about Stacey Hall's amazing debut, The Familiars, I couldn't wait to get my hands on her second novel, The Foundling, It's been the longest 5 months since I clicked that pre-order button but finally the most eagerly awaited book of 2020 landed on my door mat. The cover is absolutely stunning and I love how each carefully chosen detail is of some relevance to the story.

Inside, I was delighted to find a map of Georgian London. Oh how I love the addition of a map in a book! It really helps to bring the story to life, although Stacey Hall's amazing writing doesn't need any assistance in that regard. Stacey Halls' writing is so vivid that I swear I could smell the fish and brine of London's Billingsgate fish market where our main character Bess, is a shrimp seller.

What Stacey Halls brings to historical fiction is not only the ability to transport her readers back in time to the relevant period through her vividly described scenes, but it is her creation of strong relatable female characters, who span the class divide, that stands out for me. Bess from the slums and wealthy widow, Alexandra, have more in common than they realise; I loved Bess from the start and it surprised me how my feelings towards Alexandra changed as the story progressed.

The mystery surrounding the collection of Bess's illegitimate daughter, Clara, from the Foundling Hospital (which interestingly is a real place) had me absolutely riveted. Although it's mentioned in the synopsis, my jaw hit the floor when Bess turned up to collect her daughter and found that she had already been collected 6 years earlier by someone claiming to be Bess. I really felt for her when she returned home for the second time without her daughter in her arms. Bess doesn't take this lying down though; she is determined to find her daughter and enlists the help of a young doctor at the Foundling Hospital. Together, they try to piece together the events from 6 years ago without realising that Clara is closer than they imagined.

Completely spellbinding, The Foundling exceeded my expectations in every single way. It's an outstanding second novel from Stacey Halls who is a breath of fresh air in historical fiction. My precious signed edition is sure to become a favourite on my bookshelf and will be re-read many times to re-experience Georgian London through Stacey Halls' eyes. An unreserved 5 star rating and a very highly recommended read.

I really enjoyed this book as I did Stacey Halls first book although they are both quite different.
I loved the historical setting, especially being based in London, and was gripped to the story from the start and I raced through it to find out what would happen.
I will certainly be looking at more books from this author.

I loved the format of The Foundling. In part one, we get to walk alongside Bess in her everyday life, experiencing the depravity of the mid 1700’s and the relationships she has with her family and friends. Leaving Clara at the Foundling Hospital was such a poignant scene.

“My heart was wrapped in paper.”

Bess is a character who just gets on and does and takes opportunities when they arise. She has so much strength.

In part two we enter the life of the widow and experience how scared she is of life and how that affects her household. I thought her strength came from eventually being honest with herself and analysing the darkness.

Both I found inspirational.

Some things piece together whilst there were still blanks that needed filling which kept me intrigued and turning the pages faster. I wasn’t sure if Dr Mead knew and was duplicit or even what his motivation was! I also wasn’t sure who shared information (a couple of characters were on my radar).

Throughout the story, Bess had my loyalty even though at times I wondered if it was the right thing to do. I couldn’t see how it would be resolved and what ending we were heading towards. I loved it and cried.

In her second novel, Stacey Halls has followed through on the complexities of relationships between women and on the differences of class structure. The Foundling is a story you don’t want to miss! Highly recommended.

This is an atmospheric read which I devoured in a few sittings. I absolutely loved it.

The story is set in London in 1745. Bess, who is unmarried finds herself with child and has to leave her daughter, Clara at London’s Foundling Hospital. It breaks her heart to do so and is determined to reclaim her. On her return, six years later she finds that her daughter has been claimed, supposedly by her. She’s determined to find out who took her daughter and why.

Meanwhile, over on the other side of London a young widow, who hasn’t left the house since her husband died and who has a young daughter is persuaded to take on a nursemaid by her friend, a doctor at the Foundling Hospital.

A richly drawn and dramatic story which made me feel I was there with Bess while she searches for her precious daughter. An absolutely stunning read.

I loved The Familiars and this, Stacey Halls' follow-up is just as good. Set in London in the mid 18th Century, it's the story of two women from different backgrounds. There's Bess Bright, a poor and hard-working young woman who gives birth out of wedlock. With no means of looking after her daughter, she leaves her illegitimate daughter Clara at London's Foundling Hospital until she can return with enough money - which she does 6 years later; only to find that someone else has already claimed her. Less than a mile away in an introverted and agoraphobic young widow looking to hire a nursemaid for her young daughter. The two women's lives will clash with devastating consequences.
Having two main female characters is something both books share, but the difference here is we get accounts from both women. Hearing from their separate points of view adds so much depth and power to the story, reiterating the fact that no-one, especially no woman, could win in 18th Century London.
A powerful and gripping historical novel that I quickly became addicted to and binged as quickly as I could.

Ms. Halls has once again created a masterpiece. The Foundling is a lush, enthralling and lingering read that left me speechless. It is very different from her debut novel, The Familiars, but again Halls has infused this story with her exquisite, pitch-perfect prose, luring me in slowly until the world outside this novel no longer existed.

The story is narrated by Bess and Alexandra, two very different women from two very different walks of life, and begins on a cold night in November 1747 when Bess, an impoverished shrimp hawker, arrives at the London Foundling Hospital with her newborn daughter, Clara. Unable to raise her she has come for the monthly raffle to try and give her child a chance of survival. When Clara is accepted, Bess vows to one day return and claim back her little girl, leaving behind a token of half a heart made out of whalebone and carved with their initials so she can be identified. Six years later she finally has enough money saved to return, but is told that Clara was claimed the day after being left. And that she was the one who claimed her.

I don’t want to say much more about the plot as part of the beauty of this book is discovering it as you go along. We know that Clara/Charlotte was taken, so the mystery is why. When the story shifts to Alexandra’s dark, gloomy townhouse that is more like a prison full of fear than a home, we slowly begin unravelling the complex motivations that led to her being taken and discovering if Bess will be reunited with her daughter.

The two narrators are very different women at opposite ends of the social spectrum. Both were richly drawn and felt sympathetic and relatable. It was fascinating to read their diverse views on life and motherhood and how differently they dealt with the problems life has thrown their way. Though I wanted Bess to be reunited with her daughter properly, I also could never fully get behind either woman in their battle for the child as they both loved her, wanted what they thought was best and there would be no winners, only losers in this battle. With Clara/Charlotte facing heartache and loss whatever the outcome was. Ultimately the story became more of an exploration of what it really means to be a mother, to want what’s best for your child and what matters most when raising them.

Halls is a true storyteller who makes reading this book an immersive experience. Her imagery made me feel like I was in The Foundling Hospital with Bess and the other women, in Alexandra’s gloomy townhouse, that I walked the dank, dirty and filthy streets of Georgian London and could smell the decay. I could feel Bess’s anguish as she’s forced to hand over her child, her determination to get her back, Alexandra’s anxieties and fear and was on baited breath as the tension mounted. She illuminates the huge inequalities between the have and have nots and examines mental health problems at a time they aren’t recognised or understood.

Utterly magnificent, heart-rending, compelling and cleverly executed, The Foundling is a superior work of gothic fiction. She has created a tender, restrained masterpiece that I have no doubt will have a place in my top 10 books of 2020. This is one you don’t want to miss. READ IT NOW!

Thank you to Bonnier Zaffre and Netgalley for the copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

"The Foundling", a new book by Stacey Halls explores the ideas of motherhood, class and privilege in a setting of Georgian London. The main character is Bess Bright, a young woman, forced by her personal circumstances to give up her newborn daughter to the Foundling Hospital, a charity where the babies can be left to be cared for. However, when she comes back to claim her daughter 6 years later, she is told she was already taken - by herself. The novel is well researched and it hooks from the reader from the start - even if it doesn't necessarily deliver on the surprise front and its tone is slightly too feel-good like, but it is a gripping read and you practically race through it. I did not expected the narration in two voices, which was a pleasant surprise, as it offered a different perspective and dealt with a different set of issues. I am not sure how believable the plot was, but I did not really about it while reading the book - a sign for me that I was well and truly engrossed in the story.

This book is beautiful, the writing, it’s style, everything about it.its a tale full of twists and turns and executed so well, the dual POV is brilliant with clear distinct voices. The characters are so well written, relatable and human, real emotive characters and yes tears were shed. It’s a thoroughly engaging historical fiction story that really does evoke the period harshness for the poor and manages to make you feel like you could be there. Highly recommended tale.

Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for a free copy for an honest opinion

I am beginning to class Stacey Halls beside Laura Purcell and Jessie Burton in the gothic era. Maybe. There is something attractive about the style Stacey writes in. Certainly the scene is set, the emotions felt. This is why I dived on requesting this book when I first found out there was to be a second book by Stacey. The book covers have been very impressive too, a real eye catcher in my opinion.

Go on try a Stacey Hall book.

From the Sunday Times bestselling author of The Familiars. Two women, bound by a child, and a secret that will change everything . . .
It starts in 1747 when Bess leaves her new born baby Clara at the Foundling as impoverished, she has no means to raise it out of wedlock. She does however plan and save to get her daughter back a soon as she can. When she returns 6 years later, Bess discovers to her horror that someone claiming to be the child’s mother had collected her the day after she was originally left her there!
In all fairness to Bess she goes back to the Foundlings to determine how this could have happened and a kindly doctor supports her cause in investigating further. Whether he suspects anything or otherwise he arranges for Bess to act as handmaid to an agoraphobic, wealthy widow, who has a child Charlotte, 6 years old. It transpires that she was married to man that Bess had the child with.
As you learn about the characters and their background the pain and turmoil of their lives has a profound effect on each other. The mystery of how Alexandra managed to unwittingly obtain the child is begging to be told and the tangle of their lives creates an emerging mystery that is difficult to put down. Bess is uneducated, with good principles and naturally likeable. Alexandra is damaged, bitter, intolerant yet haunted by her undesirable actions and behaviours. The characters make for an intriguing mix when brought together, given all the differences in their lives. It makes it quite unique and transfixing. It is inspired by the real Foundling Hospital opened in 1735 as a children's home established for the "education and maintenance of exposed and deserted young children."