Desperate Women: Infanticide, Baby Farming, and the Hidden Crimes of Victorian Britain In nineteenth-century Britain, poverty, social stigma, and harsh moral codes placed immense pressure on unmarried mothers. With little support and few legal protections, some women found themselves in desperate circumstances that led to tragic outcomes. Drawing on court records, contemporary newspapers, and historical research, Desperate Women examines the little-known history of infanticide and baby farming in Victorian Britain. Through a series of real cases, the book explores how social attitudes, gender inequality, and the absence of welfare systems shaped the lives of vulnerable women. Rather than sensationalising these crimes, the book places them within their wider social and legal context, revealing a society that judged harshly while offering little compassion or support. Desperate Women is both a work of historical true crime and a study of Victorian social history, offering a compelling insight into the lives of women whose stories have largely been forgotten. CAUTION: This book contains descriptive accounts of child abuse and extreme violence. If you are sensitive to this material, it might be advisable not to read further.