Child Sexual Abuse in Victorian England

<p><em>Child Sexual Abuse in Victorian England</em> is the first detailed investigation of the way that child abuse was discovered debated diagnosed and dealt with in the Victorian and Edwardian periods.<br>The focus is placed on the child and his or her experience of court procedure and welfare practice thereby providing a unique and important evaluation of the treatment of children in the courtroom. Through a series of case studies including analyses of the criminal courts the author examines the impact of legislation at grass roots level and demonstrates why this was a formative period in the legal definition of sexual abuse. Providing a much-needed insight into Victorian attitudes including that of Christian morality this book makes a distinctive contribution to the history of crime social welfare and the family. It also offers a valuable critique of current work on the history of children's homes and institutions arguing that the inter-personal relationships of children and carers is a crucial area of study.</p>