Adoption, Family and the Paradox of Origins

SALLY SALES Psychoanalyst in private practice in South East Cornwall and Chair of Training for the Site for Contemporary Psychoanalysis in both London and the South West, UK. She also teaches part-time at the University of East London, UK, on the Psycho-Social Studies degree course. She has worked professionally in the field of adoption for many years as a researcher, consultant and trainer.

'Sally Sales's book is a very welcome addition to the 'Palgrave Macmillan Studies in Family and Intimate Life' series and makes a significant and important contribution to the literature on adoption.' -Stephen Kicks, Reader in School of Nursing, Midwifery and Social Work, University of Salford, British Journal of Social Work

• Acknowledgments PART I: A GENEALOGY OF ADOPTION Introducing the Study Family as Cause and Cure: the Emergence of Adoption Contested Involvements: Adoption before the Second World War Differences Denied: the Normalisation of Adoption Differences and identities: the Making of Modern Adoption Contested Attachments: the Controversial Emergence of 'Open Adoption' PART II: THE OPEN ARCHIVE Introducing the Archive Study Knowing or Transforming the Self: Tracing Letterbox Contact Identity through Injury: Unfit Mothers and Direct Contact Conclusions Notes Bibliography