The Trial of Jeanne Catherine: Infanticide in Early Modern Geneva

by Sara Beam

In 1686 in Geneva, a single mother named Jeanne Catherine Thomasset is charged with poisoning two young her own illegitimate daughter and the son of a rural wet nurse. So begins a harrowing criminal trial during which authorities interrogate Jeanne Catherine several times, sometimes with torture, to determine the truth.



The Trial of Jeanne Catherine is a suspenseful historical mystery that offers students the opportunity to learn about motherhood, child rearing, gender, religion, local politics, and the practice of criminal justice in early modern Europe. This edition provides the complete trial transcript as well as the deliberations of the Genevan authorities and relevant correspondence.

Genres: History

166 pages, Kindle Edition

Published January 22, 2021

Reviews

[Peggy Herring · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such a worthwhile read! The author sets the scene with an introduction--very helpful--but then you'll find the bulk of the book is made up of transcriptions of archival documents that are entirely astonishing and engrossing. I could not stop turning the pages. Jeanne Catherine's story reads like a true crime novel.

[Anna · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very interesting, would be great for a history course.