Ann Fessler

About the Author

Ann Fessler is an acclaimed author and historian whose work illuminates the untold stories of women's lives in mid-20th-century America. Drawing from extensive oral histories and archival research, she uncovers the silenced voices of those affected by societal pressures and legal constraints. Her seminal book, The Girls Who Went Away: The Hidden History of Women Who Surrendered Children for Adoption in the Decades Before Roe v. Wade, brings to light the experiences of thousands of unmarried mothers coerced into relinquishing their babies during the pre-Roe era, challenging long-held narratives about family and choice. Fessler's empathetic yet unflinching approach has earned her praise for giving agency to the marginalized, making complex historical truths accessible and profoundly moving for contemporary readers.