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nathanielcrossinggum's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
informative
reflective
sad
slow-paced
4.0
proseamongstthorns's review
hopeful
informative
inspiring
5.0
This book is just incredible. I knew none of this and it really gave me a new perspective!
porchrock13's review against another edition
challenging
informative
inspiring
reflective
sad
medium-paced
4.5
sevenlefts's review against another edition
3.0
A fascinating and heartbreaking story about a trans man's fight to keep a family title and what the suppression of his case meant for development of trans rights in the UK.
Ewan Forbes' story starts in the early 20th century. His astute (and wealthy) mother realized that there was something different about her child and went to great lengths seeking out treatments across Europe to make him healthy and happy. At some point, Ewan was able to get his birth certificate changed, and he went on to a career as a physician and a farmer, living on his family lands in Scotland. But when his older brother died, and Ewan inherited the family title of Baronet, his cousin objected, and took him to court. The entire case was held in secret and most records of it sealed, since it might have an affect on future cases involving trans people and inheritance within the British peerage system.
Playdon digs into this history, and uses it to illustrated the horrible way the medical, psychiatric and legal systems in the UK (and elsewhere) have treated trans people. There are a lot of groups and acronyms to track, but Playdon does show how inadequate the law is in keep up with actual social change, and how the House of Lords has torpedoed legislation that could improve people's lives, all in the name of preserving their place and traditions.
Ewan Forbes' story starts in the early 20th century. His astute (and wealthy) mother realized that there was something different about her child and went to great lengths seeking out treatments across Europe to make him healthy and happy. At some point, Ewan was able to get his birth certificate changed, and he went on to a career as a physician and a farmer, living on his family lands in Scotland. But when his older brother died, and Ewan inherited the family title of Baronet, his cousin objected, and took him to court. The entire case was held in secret and most records of it sealed, since it might have an affect on future cases involving trans people and inheritance within the British peerage system.
Playdon digs into this history, and uses it to illustrated the horrible way the medical, psychiatric and legal systems in the UK (and elsewhere) have treated trans people. There are a lot of groups and acronyms to track, but Playdon does show how inadequate the law is in keep up with actual social change, and how the House of Lords has torpedoed legislation that could improve people's lives, all in the name of preserving their place and traditions.
beeeenerys's review
challenging
informative
medium-paced
4.75
This was super informative and super detailed, Playdon didn't just go though Ewan Forbes's case but his entire life, how his relatives treated him with acceptance and the environment surrounding trans rights and healthcare at different stages of his life and after discussing in detail other related cases and characters in trans history and is as up-to-date on current issues as of 2021.
I listened to the bolinda audiobook and really enjoyed the exclusive interview at the end but that's also where my main complaint is. The narrator, Rebecca Root, was good but pulled out several different voices for quotations that I think was a bit over the top at times. There's also quite a few inclusions of "Ewan must have felt x" that I felt were more projection than interpretation and didn't think they made a difference.
I will definitely keep my eye out for a physical copy, This will be a great reference to have.
I listened to the bolinda audiobook and really enjoyed the exclusive interview at the end but that's also where my main complaint is. The narrator, Rebecca Root, was good but pulled out several different voices for quotations that I think was a bit over the top at times. There's also quite a few inclusions of "Ewan must have felt x" that I felt were more projection than interpretation and didn't think they made a difference.
I will definitely keep my eye out for a physical copy, This will be a great reference to have.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Transphobia and Medical trauma
Minor: Body shaming
reading_rita's review
challenging
dark
reflective
sad
slow-paced
4.0
I chose "The Hidden Case of Ewan Forbes" as my audiobook for Pride Month. This historical nonfiction book delves into trans rights (or the lack thereof) and the trans experience, focusing on several cases, with Ewan Forbes' story at its centre.
Ewan Forbes was assigned female at birth but, with the support of his mother, was raised as a boy. Remarkably, he was able to receive treatment with an early version of synthetic testosterone. Later in life, when his older brother died, Ewan had to defend his legal status as a male in Scotland's supreme court to inherit a baronetcy. The book argues that if the results of this case had not been suppressed, it could have positively impacted trans rights globally.
While I didn't particularly enjoy the writing style of this book, the personal stories of real people were compelling and heartbreaking. These narratives kept me engaged despite my reservations about the prose. What makes these stories even more poignant is seeing how trans people and other minorities continue to be mistreated by governments and laws. At the time of writing this review, the Tories are proposing changes to the Equality Act to "better protect single-sex spaces," which is a worrying development.
Despite my critique of the writing style, I recommend this book to anyone interested in learning about trans history and becoming a better ally. "The Hidden Case of Ewan Forbes" provides crucial insights into the ongoing struggle for trans rights and the impact of historical injustices.
Ewan Forbes was assigned female at birth but, with the support of his mother, was raised as a boy. Remarkably, he was able to receive treatment with an early version of synthetic testosterone. Later in life, when his older brother died, Ewan had to defend his legal status as a male in Scotland's supreme court to inherit a baronetcy. The book argues that if the results of this case had not been suppressed, it could have positively impacted trans rights globally.
While I didn't particularly enjoy the writing style of this book, the personal stories of real people were compelling and heartbreaking. These narratives kept me engaged despite my reservations about the prose. What makes these stories even more poignant is seeing how trans people and other minorities continue to be mistreated by governments and laws. At the time of writing this review, the Tories are proposing changes to the Equality Act to "better protect single-sex spaces," which is a worrying development.
Despite my critique of the writing style, I recommend this book to anyone interested in learning about trans history and becoming a better ally. "The Hidden Case of Ewan Forbes" provides crucial insights into the ongoing struggle for trans rights and the impact of historical injustices.