Many people may be unaware of the shameful eugenics program promulgated in the United States from the late 1800s to the mid-1900s. Eugenics is defined as the set of beliefs and practices which aims at improving the genetic quality of the human population. Historically, eugenicists have attempted to control the frequency of various human characteristics by preventing reproduction by those considered inferior, and promoting fertility in those considered superior.
A 1930s exhibit by the Eugenics Society. Some of the signs read "Healthy and Unhealthy Families", "Heredity as the Basis of Efficiency", and "Marry Wisely".In this harrowing novel, author Ellen Marie Wiseman highlights the eugenics movement in 20th century Virginia, which is horrific in and of itself. Worse yet, 'genetics' was used as an excuse to remove 'defective' Blue Ridge Mountain people from their homes to form the Shenandoah National Park.
*****
As the book opens, it's 1928, and a ship with European immigrants has just docked at Ellis Island. The steerage passengers have disembarked into a cavernous building, where they'll be processed and assessed.
Ellis Island
Immigrants disembarking on Ellis Island
Immigrants waiting to be processed on Ellis Island
Italian-German Magdalena (Lena) Conti, her toddler daughter Ella, her teenage brother Enzo, and their Mutti (mother) are waiting in the building with the other steerage passengers, and the hubbub is daunting.
After a preliminary examination, Lena and Ella are separated from Enzo and Mutti, and the pairs are sent to different lines for assessment.
While Lena and Ella are moving along to be examined by doctors, Lena overhears an administrator say, "Admitting mentally defective immigrants into the United States strikes at the very roots of the nation's existence. We must protect our country against this spreading poison. Especially the Jews, who are highly inbred and amoral, and we know their defects are almost entirely due to heredity. Every effort must be made to pick out those who look even remotely feebleminded or mentally backward....We have enough dirt, misery, crime, and death of our own without permitting more to be pushed on us."
Immigrants being examined on Ellis Island
Like the other passengers, Lena and Ella are given a thorough physical examination, and Lena - who can speak English - is asked questions and made to add numbers. Once Lena and Ella are deemed fit to enter the United Stares, they're fumigated, disinfected, and - stinking to high heaven from the chemicals - sent on their way.
Sadly, Enzo and Mutti aren't as fortunate. Enzo is found to be feebleminded because he can't answer questions in English, and Mutti is weak and ill after the difficult voyage. So Enzo and Mutti are told they'll be sent back to Germany on the next ship.
Lena is distraught, but knows she must stay in America for Ella, who was almost starving in Germany. Ella plans to work for her widowed relative, a Virginia farmer named Silas Wolfe, who sponsored the Contis trip to America.
Silas needs help with his house, farm, and school-age children, Jack Henry and Bonnie.
Lena and Ella meet Silas on the dock, and he's furious to be stuck with just a woman and a small child. However, Silas takes Lena and Ella to his Virginia home, and once the immigrants settle in, things seem to go smoothly.....for a while.
Unfortunately, there's big trouble on the horizon. The state of Virginia has passed laws meant to break up families, especially Blue Ridge Mountain families, so the government can take their land for the Shenandoah National Park.
Eugenicists believe Blue Ridge mountain people are inbred and genetically inferior, and government agents are PERMITTED to abduct children.
The 'normal' youngsters are placed in foster homes, and the 'defective' children are sent to the Virginia State Colony for the Feebleminded and Epileptics. Troublesome women are also sent to the Virginia State Colony, and are released only after they agree to be sterilized.
Virginia State Colony for the Feebleminded and Epileptics
Women on the grounds of the Virginia State Colony for the Feebleminded and Epileptics
As in any community, Blue Ridge Mountain families socialize, help each other, and share news, and everyone knows local children have gone missing.
Thus Silas makes his rifle accessible, and Jack Henry and Bonnie are taught to hide if they hear the sheriff or strangers approaching the property.
This works well.....for a while. Silas, who's bereft by the death of his wife and bad tempered, is in the eye of the eugenics advocates. To add to the problem, Lena and Silas are thought to be 'living in sin', thus demonstrating they're degenerates with inferior genes.
Heartbreaking events follow, based on actual history. This is an important story because history - in the form of the wanton mistreatment of immigrants and disadvantaged people- shouldn't repeat itself.
'The Lies They Told' is a good book for people interested in the eugenics movement and the history of the Blue Ridge Mountain residents of Virginia. Be sure to read the author's foreward, where she mentions her research for the novel.
I had access to both the digital book and the audiobook, narrated by Elizabeth Rodgers, who does a fine job.
Thanks to Netgalley, Ellen Marie Wiseman, Kensington Publishing, and RBmedia for copies of the book.
Rating: 4 stars
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