My experience of court was eye-opening. And when I sat in on other cases, I realised how often mothers are vilified My experience of court was eye-opening. And when I sat in on other cases, I realised how often mothers are vilified I t’s 1836 and the French writer George Sand is swimming in the River Indre with her clothes on, weighed down by layers of ankle-length fabric. To anyone passing by, she must look mad or worse – driven by a death wish. But for her there is the relief of cool water