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  • Published: 2 March 2012
  • ISBN: 9781869797751
  • Imprint: RHNZ Adult ebooks
  • Format: EBook
  • Pages: 320

The Day She Cradled Me



A fascinating novel based on the life of the infamous baby farmer Minnie Dean, the only woman in New Zealand history ever to be hanged.

A fascinating novel based on the life of the infamous baby farmer Minnie Dean, the only woman in New Zealand history ever to be hanged.

Accused of infanticide and awaiting trial and then sentence, Minnie confides in Reverend Lindsay. Alternating between these two contrasting personalities, the novel tells Minnie's version of events. From her oppressive upbringing in Victorian Scotland to adulthood in Southland, Minnie battles her own nature and the hardships of colonial life and social hypocrisy. Once Minnie is tried, she has to face her impending execution, while Reverend Lindsay, who has become her unlikely ally, fights to prevent her paying the ultimate price for society's sins.

  • Published: 2 March 2012
  • ISBN: 9781869797751
  • Imprint: RHNZ Adult ebooks
  • Format: EBook
  • Pages: 320

About the author

Sacha De Bazin

Sacha de Bazin’s first novel is a fascinating fictional account of the infamous Minnie Dean, the only woman to be hanged in New Zealand. The Day She Cradled Me tells the story from Minnie’s point of view and from that of her confidante in prison, the local vicar, as she waits to be tried and hanged for infanticide. The Sunday Star Times felt it read like the work of a ‘much more experienced writer’ and concluded that ‘for a first novel, this is a magnificent achievement’. Kerre Woodham declared it: ‘an extremely accomplished debut novel and a wonderful work of historical fiction. It’s wonderfully written and a beautiful read.’ De Bazin grew up in Tokoroa, studied in Auckland, raised her five children in Canterbury, and recently moved to Nelson. She has a BA in English, and previously was a primary school teacher. See more at www.sachadebazin.com.