Originally published in 1960, when every twentieth child in this country was born illegitimate, every eighth was conceived outside marriage; every fourth mother conceived her first-born before her wedding day; and among the children below school-leaving age over half a million were illegitimate – figures that were paralleled in many countries of Europe and the Commonwealth at the time.

Who are the parents of these children? Why do they not marry? How many of the fathers are known and how many of them know or help to maintain their children? What legal pressure can be brought upon the parents and how easily can payment be evaded? What assistance does the State or do the voluntary agencies give to these young families, here or in other countries? As the children grow up, what happens to them? How many are adopted, how many pass into public care – and why? How many appear before the courts? What special personal difficulties do they have? These and a host of other questions are fully explored for the first time in this book, which at the time would be greeted with equal interest by social workers here and abroad and be the general reader. The English problems are viewed in relation to the various solutions adopted by other countries, and some of these – the Russian, German, Norwegian, Swedish and Danish – are discussed at length.

The book contains two full-length stories told by unmarried mothers – one a nurse and the other a teacher – in their own words.

From a very different world today this reissue can be read and understood in its historical context.

This book is a re-issue originally published in 1960. The language used and views portrayed are a reflection of its era and no offence is meant by the Publishers to any reader by this re-publication.