The book recounts the true story of Victor, a feral boy found in 1800 near Aveyron, France, who was taken in by the pioneering scientist Jean-Marc Gaspard Itard. Over six years, Itard attempted to teach Victor language and social skills, achieving limited success. Victor never fully learned to speak but showed some emotional and cognitive growth. Itard’s work laid the foundation for special education and teaching methods for the deaf and disabled. Psychologist Harlan Lane analyzes Itard’s methods, noting both their groundbreaking nature and limitations—especially the missed opportunity to teach Victor sign language. Lane concludes Victor’s case supports the idea of a critical period for language learning but also highlights Itard’s lasting legacy as a founder of modern special education.
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