Keeping Family Secrets: Shame and Silence in Memoirs from the 1950s

Keeping Family Secrets is a groundbreaking book that uncovers the hidden stories of families during the Cold War era.

Through personal accounts, Margaret K.

Nelson sheds light on the secrets kept by ordinary families to hide the disconnect between their reality and the prevailing ideals of what a family should be.

The book reveals the costs associated with keeping these secrets, including lying, hurling epithets, inflicting abuse, and denying family membership.

With a focus on same-sex attraction, unwed pregnancies, institutionalization of children with mental and physical disabilities, left-wing political activities, adoption, and Jewish ancestry, this book provides a unique perspective on the complexities of family dynamics during a pivotal time in history.

Whether you're a historian, sociologist, or simply someone interested in understanding the human experience, Keeping Family Secrets is an essential read that will leave you with a newfound appreciation for the secrets that families keep and the ways in which they shape our understanding of ourselves and our social worlds.