Sacrificed for Honor: Italian Infant Abandonment and the Politics of Reproductive Control
Social History History Gender Studies Reproductive Rights Italian History Women's Studies 19th-Century Europe Adoption Studies
Sacrificed for Honor: Italian Infant Abandonment and the Politics of Reproductive Control is the 1993 hardcover first edition that historians and collectors prize. David I. Kertzer’s award-winning investigation—252 pages with its original dust jacket intact—exposes how 19th-century Italian authorities turned foundling homes into instruments of state population control, forcing thousands of unwed mothers to surrender newborns in the name of family “honor.” Vintage copies in tidy, tight condition are increasingly scarce, making this Beacon Press release a sought-after addition to gender-studies, Italian-history, and reproductive-rights shelves.
What makes this copy especially appealing is the light, erasable pencil inscription on the front endpaper—an authentic period touch that does not detract from readability—and the crisp, unmarked text block. No dog-ears, no sun-faded spine, no cracked hinges: just solid, collectible quality for scholars, students, or anyone drawn to narrative non-fiction that reads like a thriller while rigorously documenting the collision of church, state, and women’s bodies.
Young-adult and adult readers alike value Kertzer’s storytelling gift: he weaves individual foundling records, Senate debates, and village gossip into a sweeping argument about patriarchy and power. The book remains foundational for understanding modern debates on adoption, abortion, and reproductive autonomy, and its durable hardcover format stands up to repeated reference. Keywords that surface this gem include “Italian foundling history,” “19th-century infant abandonment,” and “reproductive control politics,” ensuring that researchers and book lovers searching those themes will discover a compelling, conversation-starting volume.
Refer to our eBay listing for a full condition report and many more high-quality pictures of this item.
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