Author:Margaret Humphreys
EMPTY CRADLES is a powerful testament to an ordinary woman's astonishing dedication, compassion and stubborn courage.
In 1986 Margaret Humphreys, a Nottingham social worker and mother of two, investigated the case of a woman who claimed that, at the age of four, she had been put on a boat to Australia by the British government. At first incredulous, Margaret Humphreys soon discovered that this woman's story was just the tip of an enormous iceberg. As many as an estimated 150,000 children had in fact been deported from children's homes in Britian and shipped off to a 'new life' in distant parts of the Empire - the last as recently as 1967.
Many of the children were told that their parents were dead. Their parents, too, were often deceived; many believed that their children had been adopted in Britain. The reality was very different: for numerous children it was to be a life of horrendous physical and sexual abuse in institutions in Western Australia and elsewhere.
Margaret Humphreys reveals how she gradually unravelled this shocking secret; how she became drawn into the lives of some of these innocent and unwilling exiles, how it became her mission to reunite them with their families in Britain, and how her lonely crusade led to the founding of the Child Migrants Trust.
EMPTY CRADLES is a strong indictment of government, as well as charitable and religious organisations. It is a sad, harrowing story that will move the reader to anger and tears. Yet it offers a message of hope to all the victims of a shameful scandal that has been ignored for too long.
The secrets of the lost children of Britain may never have been revealed if it had not been for [the actions of] Margaret Humphreys.
—— Sunday TimesIt is a story that defies belief.
—— IndependentA truly astonishing, haunting, real-life detective story.
—— SheBrought tears to my eyes. It is impossible to read Empty Cradles without thinking "These could be my parents. These could be my children."...Despite the sadness and anger at its centre, hope remains the principal message of this remarkable book.
—— The TimesA modern Florence Nightingale.
—— Sydney Morning HeraldSanger has a knack for getting Washington insiders to leak like sieves.
—— The ScotsmanObama would do well to read David Sanger's highly instructive new book.
—— Edward Luce , Financial TimesI would recommend this book to anyone who wants a well-rounded, no-nonsense overview of Afghanistan. A brilliant read
—— SoldierDavid Loyn, a long-time BBC foreign affairs reporter, has written a brilliant history book of Afghanistan's wars of the past two centuries, but more importantly the evidence he amasses poses a primary question about the war being fought in Afghanistan: are we sure this is a good idea? The lesson from history suggests it might not be . . . it is a bleak conclusion to a book that should be a must-read for every politician who sends our squaddies into Afghanistan - but one based fairly and squarely on the weight of history
—— New StatesmanExcellent ... Should be slipped into President Obama's Christmas stocking
—— Max Hastings , Sunday TimesA seminal book that I know for a fact is sitting on a number of British military commander's desks well-thumbed, as they strive to get to know their enemy in Afghanistan
—— Damien Lewis, bestselling author of Apache DawnSome of our worst failures there might have been averted, if only we'd bothered to learn the lessons of the past. This book should become a core text
—— Roger Cox , ScotsmanImpressive . . . Should be required reading for everyone in the Foreign Office
—— Joan Bakewell , Sunday TelegraphThe interior designer, journalist and socialite Nicky Haslam has met almost everyone who's anyone
—— Brandon Robshaw , Independent on SundayIt is...boisterously good company and proof that if Haslam knows one thing, it's that you can only get away with a life like his if you are never, ever boring.
—— Claire Allfree , Metroa terrifically entertaining read
—— Carla McKay , Daily Mailextremely diverting, essentially kind-hearted and well written
—— William Leith , Evening Standard
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