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The Forgotten Child

The powerful true story of a boy abandoned as a baby and left to die

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About this listen

Based on a true story, The Forgotten Child is a heart-breaking memoir of an abandoned newborn baby left to die, his tempestuous upbringing, and how he came through the other side.

It’s a freezing winter’s night in 1954. A baby boy, a few hours old, is left by his mother, wrapped in nothing but two sheets of newspaper and hidden amongst the undergrowth by a canal bank. An hour later, a late-shift postman is walking wearily home when he hears a faint cry. He finds the newspaper parcel and discovers the newborn, white-cold and whimpering, inside.

After being rushed to hospital and against all odds, the baby survives. He’s baptised by the hospital chaplain as Richard.
Everything feels as though it’s looking up; Richard is put into local authority care and regains his health. However, after nearly five blissful years in a rural care home filled with loving friends, it soon unfolds that his turbulent start in life is only the beginning…

Based on a devastating true story, this inspirational memoir follows Richard’s traumatic birth, abusive childhood, and search for the truth.

 Abuse Adventurers, Explorers & Survival Dysfunctional Relationships Parenting & Families Relationships True Crime Infant Memoir

What the critics say

‘An incredible story of survival.’ The Sun
All stars
Most Relevant
Hard to love a story where people can be so horrible, but the performer is really good and the story overall is positive.

However, I question the honesty; I would've preferred a deeper dive into Richard's feelings about both of his adoptive parents. And about their relationship to each other - I feel like he would have had greater awareness and understanding than he shared.

I don't want to post spoilers so I can't really say more than that.

I really wanted him to grow up and clobber his dad. I guess it's good that he didn't but it would've been wonderful.

Sad but still good

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This was a great book and really makes you think about how many children suffer behind closed doors.

Great book

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