David L. Ransel Book order

The book delves into the establishment and operation of the central foundling homes in Moscow and St. Petersburg during the 18th and 19th centuries, focusing on their role in addressing abandonment and infanticide. It highlights the homes' function as social laboratories aimed at educating artisans while managing a significant number of children in rural areas. David Ransel examines the interaction between urban and rural societies, providing a detailed historical analysis of these institutions and their broader impact on Russian society over a span of 150 years.

Describes the reception of medical ideas and practices by three generations of Russian and Tatar village women in the 20th century. This book shows how the women mediated the inherited beliefs of their families and communities, the claims of the state to control reproduction, and their personal desires for a better life.