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The Eighteenth Century --
Children
This book focuses on an aspect of the darker side of life in eighteenth
century England.
Otis Gardiner is a pedlar. But he does not confine his trade to the usual pots and pans. He has an additional lucrative and evil business. He travels the country and collects orphan and unwanted children who would otherwise be a burden on their parishes. He sells the boys to the Army and Navy and the girls to the mills. But far worse than this is his treatment of babies. If an unmarried girl has a baby then she could bring disgrace on her whole family. To prevent this the infant will be given to Gardiner who will promise to take it to the Coram Hospital for foundlings. He is highly paid for doing this. But very few of the tiny unfortunates entrusted to his care ever reach the Coram. He kills most of them and buries their bodies in ditches.
After an introduction showing the activities of the wicked Gardiner and his half-witted son Meshak the story moves to the wealthy Ashbrook family. The elder son Alexander wants to be a musician but his stern father forbids it. Eventually Alexander runs away, but not before he has unknowingly fathered a child to Melissa the daughter of the governess. When the child is born Melissa is told that it died at birth but this is not true. It was given to Gardiner. But this is one baby which does not end up in a ditch. It is saved by Meshak who runs off with it and takes it to Coram.
The story then jumps eight years to when the child, who is now called Aaron, is growing up in the Coram Hospital. He shares his father's passion for music. One day an old woman with a reputation for being a witch tells him,
"A gentleman you were born, a gentleman you are and a gentleman you will be."
But there is much danger and tragedy before this prophecy can come true.
This is fiction with a firm foundation in fact. Otis Gardiner may be fictional but there were plenty of characters like him at the time and the Coram Hospital actually existed.
'Coram Boy' paints a wide picture of eighteenth century England. The life of a wealthy landowning family is contrasted with the utter poverty of many of the population. The varying fortunes of apprentices is touched upon, as is the dreadful treatment of little black boys who are regarded as playthings by many of the wealthy.
Set against this is the detailed picture of the day to day running of the Coram Hospital showing the good done by the philanthropists of the time.
There is even an appearance by George Frederick Handel because he hears Aaron sing and chooses him to sing a solo in the Messiah.
Seldom has fiction been so authentic. Poignant and heart rending.
'Coram Boy' won the Whitbread Children's Book Award.
12 to adult