The Foundling is Stacey Halls’ second novel, published in 2020. Stacey Halls is a Sunday Times bestselling author known for her compelling novels that seamlessly blend historical fiction and mystery.
Her debut, The Familiars, was hugely popular and was a Richard and Judy book club pick.
I really enjoyed her first book so I was really looking forward to reading The Foundling.
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Plot
In London, 1754, 18-year-old Bess Bright reluctantly leaves her newborn baby Clara at the Foundling hospital. She has no means to support herself and the baby and she is left with no other option. She is determined to save money and come back to reclaim her daughter.
Six years later Bess returns to the Foundling Hospital and is astonished to be told that Clara has already been claimed. Bess is determined to find out who took her little girl, and why.
Less than a mile from Bess’s lodgings in the poorest part of the city, Alexandra lives alone with her daughter Charlotte. Alexandra’s life in Bloomsbury with its riches and comforts is a million miles away from the life Bess leads.
However, Alexandra has her own issues and hasn’t left the house in a decade. Her close friend, a doctor at the Foundling Hospital, encourages Alexandra to hire a nursemaid for her daughter, to allow Charlotte to experience the world she has previously been denied. She reluctantly agrees, yet little does she know this is a decision that will alter the course of both her and Charlotte’s quiet lives.
The Foundling Book Review
The Foundling is a gripping and atmospheric story that follows the plights of two women. We read from both Bess and Alexandra’s perspectives and get to see how society treats both women based on their class. Bess is a really likeable character with her naturally loving nature which contrasts perfectly against Alexandra’s cold and remote personality.
The characters were nuanced and complicated and Bess in particular really was a sympathetic character. Alexandra, meanwhile, was much harder to empathise with. However as I learnt more about her, I did begin to sympathise with her more. She clearly suffered from many mental health problems including anxiety, PTSD and agoraphobia, although they were never actually named.
Though it is a work of fiction, the story is grounded in historical fact. The Foundling Hospital was a real place in London and the awful concept of accepting babies on the basis of a lottery was true in the 18th century. I found it horrifying that a baby could be refused entry purely because their mother selected the wrong coloured ball.
Stacey Halls is brilliant at creating an atmosphere and really allowing the reader to be fully immersed in the story. The book was really well written and perfectly highlighted the relationship between mothers and daughters and class and power. The prose was full of vivid descriptions of both the characters and their surroundings and I enjoyed the way the story slowly built up to the climax.
Another brilliant book by Stacey Halls.
What should I read after The Foundling by Stacey Halls?
If you enjoyed reading Mrs England, I’d definitely suggest reading more books by Stacey Halls, such as Mrs England, The Familiars and The Household.
If you’re looking for more books set during the 18th century I’d also recommend That Bonesetter Woman by Frances Quinn and The Square of Sevens by Laura Shepherd Robinson.
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