Super Short Summary

In The Wild Boy of Aveyron, Harlan Lane recounts the story of Victor, a feral child found in Aveyron in 1800, who was subsequently studied by Jean-Marc Gaspard Itard. Despite years of effort, Victor never fully learned to speak but did show some behavioral improvements. Itard’s methods, developed through his work with Victor, later influenced special education, making Itard a pioneering figure in the field. The book includes topics such as developmental disabilities and historical treatment of disabled individuals.