started to unravel my mother ’ s life , it became really clear that it was a story that had to be told , because it ’ s a really important part of history that hadn ’ t been told in the way I told it .
When I first started , I was focused on telling my mother ’ s story . Then , it became really clear that there was also my grandmother ’ s story . Then , as I was doing my grandmother ’ s story , I realized that you couldn ’ t tell their story without looking at the historical aspect – what happened in the past , and how the past impacted them . Then , it became clear that my story was intertwined with all of that , as well . The real takeaway from what happened is how decisions that were made over 200 years ago had a direct and profound impact on my family two centuries later . It would be a story half told if you didn ’ t talk about the impact on the next generation .
Q : You mentioned exploring your family history as well as what happened at the Foundling Hospital . Without spoiling any elements for the readers , was there anything in the Hospital ’ s rules for the admission of children that surprised you ? A : Yes ! As a lawyer , the way we deal with children is “ what ’ s in the best interest of the child .” What surprised me was that the admission to the hospital had nothing to do with the best interest of the child . It had everything to do with the woman who was attempting to find a home for her child , and whether or not she was virtuous . That had to be determined by her going in front of a panel of men , and then also sending people out to the countryside to interview and get reports from all the men in her life – whether or not she was virtuous . It was astonishing ! That ’ s where I definitely got a little riled up . Looking back in history , when we talk about whether or not women are believed , you can see it there , as well as in our current state of affairs .
Q : While we ’ re talking about being “ believed ,” your Mom presented herself as someone who was elegant and poised ; she even hinted at a privileged or aristocratic background . At what point did you
24 April / May 2021 realize , or begin to realize , that this wasn ’ t true ? That she didn ’ t have a privileged background ? A : I had hints that not all was what it seemed the day I found her in her room , writing the name Dorothy Soames . In terms of understanding that she had not actually received training in piano and painting , and that her accent was not what she ’ d grown up with , that really did not come until probably the day my father said , “ No , your mother did not go to the Royal Academy of Music in London .” I was in my 40s when that happened . I was stunned ; I didn ’ t know .
It was clear throughout my whole life that there was something else going on . But my mother seems like a charming , British , refined woman . Always . That was believable .
Q : It ’ s very brave , the honesty and transparency with which you describe your relationship with your mother . How has the feedback been to those descriptions ? A : It ’ s been amazing how much my story has resonated with people . Of course , I have gotten outreach from Foundlings and the children of Foundlings . The Foundlings who have reached out to me have said , “ this is what happened ,” and you could tell that for the very first time , they felt heard . The children of the Foundlings have all reached out to me and said , “ I felt like I was reading my story .” So , it ’ s clear that inter-generational trauma is a thing , and it really happens .
I ’ ve also heard from so many other people that it resonated with them in some way , that they might have a difficult relationship with somebody in their life . It might not be their mother . It could be somebody else . Also , them understanding intergenerational trauma and how things that happened in the past influence present relationships . It ’ s been overwhelmingly positive .
There were a couple of reviewers in England who were a little bit perturbed that an American was criticizing a venerated British institution . But even in
England , [ the book ] has been incredibly well received . People seem to be overwhelmingly grateful that the story ’ s being told .
Q : Going back to your experience as an attorney , do you think your legal background helped you or hindered you in the investigating and writing process ? A : It absolutely helped me . As an attorney and former litigator , for every single case , you had to get up to speed on what the topic was . You just learned how to do that . You learned how to dig into government files and how to put together a competent narrative . You understand instinctively what a good source is . I ’ m not sure I could have done it without my legal training . Hopefully I ’ ve proven that lawyers can write – and not just briefs ! I hope that lawyers take to heart that you can write a book , change your career , and delve into something new at any point in your career .
Q : What ’ s next for you ? A : I practice part-time with Pro Bono Partnership of Atlanta , and then the other part of the time I do the book . I ’ m going to start working on book # 2 ( which was supposed to be book # 1 ). It ’ s about my adventures litigating in rural Georgia . It ’ s all about this one case that I worked on , fighting off a landfill in Taliaferro County [ pronounced “ Tolliver ”]. The book will talk about some local Atlanta activists , and it will tie the past to the present . I want to focus on what it ’ s really like to litigate , as a woman , and how the past is connected to the present .
___________________________________
Justine Cowan is a part-time staff attorney with Pro Bono Partnership of Atlanta and a member of the Atlanta Bar Association . To learn more about Justine and The Secret Life of Dorothy Soames , visit
justinecowan . com .