Stacey Halls is the author of Patrons, the UK's best-selling debut novel of 2019. Her new book [Hospital for Abandoned Children] is a historically accurate novel about the difficult fates of women of the past.” – Cosmopolitan (UK) London, 18th century. Bess Bright with her father Abe and brother Ned live in a poor London quarter. Bess works at the fish market with her father, and Ned sweeps the streets and cleans the stables. When Bess becomes pregnant by a wealthy merchant, her life is split into before and after. From the child's father, who dies under unclear circumstances, all that remains is the name, Daniel, and the likeness of a medallion, half a heart made of whalebone. Bess has to give her daughter to a “hospital for newborns”, from where she can pick her up after saving enough money. Bess leaves a memento with her newborn daughter - half a heart from Daniel. A few years later, Bess manages to raise money and wants her daughter back. But this path turns out to be thorny. Bess's path through the foggy streets of London will pass through alleys where street torchbearers work, past the houses of rich people hiding their madness, and the abode of doctors. This is a story about a legendary city, about acceptance and about maternal feelings - the most selfless on earth.