THE FOUNDLING

Laura Benanti gives a superb narration of this absorbing novel about the eugenics movement in early-twentieth-century America. Mary is the 18-year-old secretary of Dr. Agnes Vogel, superintendent of a facility for "feebleminded women of childbearing age." Benanti provides authentic voices for the large cast, including the staff and inmates of the facility, as well as residents of the rural Pennsylvania community in which it is located. She captures the refined yet adamant tone of Dr. Vogel and portrays the attitudes of others who promote the segregation of women from poor backgrounds whose views and experiences with race, sexuality, and/or marriage conflict with the social norms of that time. Benanti gives a vibrant depiction of a sad chapter in American history. M.J. © AudioFile 2022, Portland, Maine [Published: JULY 2022]