Forbidden Fruit
The Secret, Scandalous History of Contraception and Abortion

Quotes

"The history of reproductive rights didn't begin with Roe, and it won't end with Dobbs. A meticulous and long-overdue reclamation, Forbidden Fruit quietly rearranges our understanding of the past—and then rather loudly rearranges our understanding of the present. Jessica Cale traces reproductive knowledge across cultures and centuries, recovering the women, wisdom, and agency so often erased from the historical record. Authoritative, urgent, and compulsively readable." —Lindsey Fitzharris, New York Times bestselling author of The Butchering Art and Sleuth-Hound

"At a time when bad-faith actors are seeking to further restrict bodily autonomy by rewriting history and insisting abortion was always considered an odious act, Cale’s work of setting the record straight is more important than ever. She offers a lively, approachable assessment of the history of abortion, which has always been widely practiced as an essential part of women’s healthcare. It’s a vital and engaging read, one that I tore through at record speed." —Olivia Campbell, New York Times bestselling author of Women in White Coats and Sisters in Science

"You may think, as a pro-choice person, that you don’t need this book. And you’re goddamn wrong. Forbidden Fruit is packed with fascinating, urgent, and absolutely necessary history. Readers who care about women’s rights, arm yourself with this book." —Mallory O’Meara, bestselling author of Girly Drinks and Daughter of Daring

"Smart, surprising, fascinating, accessible and absolutely vital. Jessica Cale has written an incredible book I wish had always existed. Thankfully, this book has arrived at a particularly critical time in history. Cale’s lifelong passion for this subject and her deep well of knowledge shines through in her engaging, relatable voice that guides us through history with wit and expertise. As inspiringly full of resolve as it is full of difficult truths, this book is a must-read for anyone who cares about, well, life itself." —Leanna Renee Hieber, USA Today bestselling co-author of A Haunted History of Invisible Women and America's Most Gothic

"An utterly fascinating and incredibly detailed account of the taboo history we never learned in school. Jessica Cale will have you completely rethinking the way you see birth control, abortion, and motherhood as a whole." —Abigail Porter, "The Girl with the List"

"Having worked for years in a contraception museum, I didn't think there was anything I didn't know about its scandalous history—and yet Forbidden Fruit constantly surprised and delighted. Uncovering the forgotten wisdom of women who had control of their fertility long before the modern era, Jessica Cale offers a provocative page-turner that is frequently humorous, sometimes irreverent, and always on point." —Brandy Schillace, medical historian, author of The Intermediaries: A Weimar Story

"Powerful and compelling, Forbidden Fruit is a vital reclamation of the long and fascinating history of women taking control of their bodies and their lives. Through meticulous research and lively storytelling, Jessica Cale reminds us that reproductive autonomy is the work of centuries of ingenuity, intelligence, resistance and rebellion. A passionate feminist history, and a vital call, today, for the defense of our fundamental rights and freedoms." —Elinor Cleghorn, author of Unwell Women

"A deeply researched, delightfully voicey trip through reproductive history, Forbidden Fruit is the resource we need to combat attacks on abortion and contraceptive freedom. Jessica Cale has earned herself a permanent place on my history shelf." —Alison Finch, author and co-host of We Read It One Night podcast

"An important and absorbing book—this is a history that shapes all our lives, whether we realise it or not. Jessica Cale has taken what many would consider an inherently difficult subject and turned it into an engaging read that is deeply fascinating, often unexpectedly funny and ultimately uplifting." —Violet Fenn, author of Sex and Sexuality in Victorian Britain