The Disquieting Death of Emma Gill: Abortion, Death, and Concealment in Victorian New England

In 1898, a group of schoolboys in Bridgeport, Connecticut discovered gruesome packages under a bridge holding the dismembered remains of a young woman. Nancy Guilford, half of a married pair of "doctors" was suspected of the abortion and the public was fascinated by her flight from justice. The Disquieting Death of Emma Gill examines the cultural shifts and societal compacts that allowed the Guilfords' practice to flourish while abortion was illegal and unregulated, focusing on the women at the heart of the story.

Format: Hardback
Length: 288 pages
Publication date: 31 January 2024
Publisher: Chicago Review Press

In 1898, a group of schoolboys in Bridgeport, Connecticut, stumbled upon gruesome packages under a bridge, containing the dismembered remains of a young woman. The discovery revealed that the deceased woman had recently undergone an abortion, prompting prosecutors to swiftly identify her and assign blame for her tragic death. The focus of the investigation quickly shifted to Nancy Guilford, half of a married pair of "doctors" known to the police throughout New England. A captivated public closely followed the suspects' escape from justice, with many rooting for the fugitives.

The Disquieting Death of Emma Gill delves into the Guilfords' story, but also explores the cultural shifts and societal agreements that allowed their abortion practice to thrive despite the illegality and lack of regulation of the practice. The book focuses on the women at the center of the narrative, both the victims and the perpetrators, reexamining this historical slice through a feminist lens and emphasizing the very real lives that were at stake when a woman's body and choices were controlled by others.

Weight: 532g
Dimension: 160 x 237 x 23 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781641608565