"When they were born on May 28, 1934, quintuplets Yvonne, Annette, Cécile, Émilie, and Marie captivated the world, defying medical history with every breath they took. In an effort to protect them from hucksters and showmen, the Ontario government took custody of the quints, sequestering them in a private, custom-built hospital across the road from their family. Here, Sarah Miller reconstructs their unprecedented upbringing with depth and subtlety, illustrating not only their resilience, but also the unique bond of their sisterhood"--Provided by the publisher.

Includes index.

Part one, 1 in 57,000,000 births -- Quintuplets born to farm wife -- Canadian woman gives birth to five girls; all are doing well -- Country doctor struggles to save lives of Canadian mother and quintuplet girls -- Progress of quintuplets amazes medical world -- Star sends assistance to mother and five babes -- Quintuplets may go on exhibit at Chicago fair -- Quintuplets' father to get $100 a week while all live -- Home turned into hospital -- Parents of quintuplets dazed by sudden fame, offers, gifts -- Too many showmen after quintuplets -- Dionnes now have to guard quintuplets from tourist horde -- Quintuplet hospital started near home of parents -- Parents of babies plan for future -- Parents' wishes to be ignored -- Part two, Quint-mania -- Ontario adopts five world-famous little girls -- Most famous of mothers one of the unhappiest -- The private life of the Dionne quints -- Quints lose stage fright, 2500 gawkers a day -- Quintuplet frolics play to "standing room only" -- The threat to the quints' happiness -- Dionne endorsements, incorporated -- Dr. Dafoe himself -- Science designs a life for the Dionnes -- Home or science? The Dionnes' case debated -- Just one big unhappy family -- Guardians of Dionnes seek better relations with tots' parents -- "Felt right at home with king and queen" -- Dionne suing Dafoe for libel; New York photo basis of action -- Dionne wins control over his five girls -- Part three, Finding home -- Quints will soon move to new home -- Dionne quints get schoolmates, nine specially selected girls -- Dionne quints 16 now, but no dates, says stern papa -- Famous Dionne quintuplets to be separated for first time this fall -- Four quints dry-eyed and close to shock -- Four Dionne sisters start life anew -- Boys? Million dollars? Dionnes shrug shoulders -- The Dionnes: a fight for happiness -- Quints' story causes new wound -- The babies of Quintland now: broke and bitter -- Epilogue: Dionne visit creates new memories.