Cries Unheard (Magill’s Literary Annual 1991-2005)
At a glance:
- Author: Gitta Sereny
- First Published: 1999
- Type of Work: Sociology and biography
- Time of Work: 1968-1998
- Setting: Newcastle upon Tyne, England
- Principal Characters: Mary Bell, Betty Bell, Billy Bell, Norma Bell, Martin Brown, Brian Howe, James Dixon, Pat Royston
- Genres: Nonfiction, Biography, Sociology
- Subjects: Justice, 1960’s, 1970’s, Abused persons, Murder or homicide, 1980’s, England or English people, 1990’s, Juvenile delinquency, Courts or courtrooms
- Locales: Newcastle upon Tyne, England
Cries Unheard is Gitta Sereny’s account of the life of Mary Bell, who was convicted at age eleven of murdering four-year-old Martin Brown and three-year-old Brian Howe in Newcastle upon Tyne, England, in 1968. As a reporter at Mary’s trial, Sereny became interested in the crimes and published an account of the events, The Case of Mary Bell, in 1972. Her fascination with Mary did not diminish over the next thirty years. Although never doubting Mary’s guilt, she was appalled at the way adult justice was administered to such a young child. The author also felt that an...
[The entire page is 1840 words long]
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