The Woman They Could Not Silence: One Woman, Her Incredible Fight for Freedom, and the Men Who Tried to Make Her Disappear
- Downloads：3733
- Type：Epub+TxT+PDF+Mobi
- Create Date：2021-07-18 11:31:16
- Update Date：2025-09-06
- Status：finish
- Author：Kate Moore
- ISBN：166478179X
- Environment：PC/Android/iPhone/iPad/Kindle
- Download
Summary
1860: As the clash between the states rolls slowly to a boil， Elizabeth Packard， housewife and mother of six， is facing her own battle。 The enemy sits across the table and sleeps in the next room。 Her husband of twenty-one years is plotting against her because he feels increasingly threatened—by Elizabeth's intellect， independence， and unwillingness to stifle her own thoughts。 So Theophilus makes a plan to put his wife back in her place。 One summer morning， he has her committed to an insane asylum。
The horrific conditions inside the Illinois State Hospital in Jacksonville， Illinois， are overseen by Dr。 Andrew McFarland， a man who will prove to be even more dangerous to Elizabeth than her traitorous husband。 But most disturbing is that Elizabeth is not the only sane woman confined to the institution。 There are many rational women on her ward who tell the same story: they've been committed not because they need medical treatment， but to keep them in line—conveniently labeled "crazy" so their voices are ignored。
No one is willing to fight for their freedom and， disenfranchised both by gender and the stigma of their supposed madness， they cannot possibly fight for themselves。 But Elizabeth is about to discover that the merit of losing everything is that you then have nothing to lose。。。
The horrific conditions inside the Illinois State Hospital in Jacksonville， Illinois， are overseen by Dr。 Andrew McFarland， a man who will prove to be even more dangerous to Elizabeth than her traitorous husband。 But most disturbing is that Elizabeth is not the only sane woman confined to the institution。 There are many rational women on her ward who tell the same story: they've been committed not because they need medical treatment， but to keep them in line—conveniently labeled "crazy" so their voices are ignored。
No one is willing to fight for their freedom and， disenfranchised both by gender and the stigma of their supposed madness， they cannot possibly fight for themselves。 But Elizabeth is about to discover that the merit of losing everything is that you then have nothing to lose。。。
Reviews
Margaret Kelly
，
This is a great read with unexpected twists and turns。 Another reminder of how much women owe to previous generations。
Patty
，
My favorite genre is history told from the diaries and notes of those who lived the story。 With this book， I can add another woman who paved the way to the liberties I enjoy based on gender， and Kate Moore brought this story to our current times with her postscript。
Paula
，
Gripping！ Timeless message for all women， married or not。 This story was so well written， compelling， yet horrifying。 The Epilogue and the Postscript were as insightful as the entire book itself。 This is a story not only about womens' courage but about humanity when all around ， even the country's struggle， seemed lost。 Gripping！ Timeless message for all women， married or not。 This story was so well written， compelling， yet horrifying。 The Epilogue and the Postscript were as insightful as the entire book itself。 This is a story not only about womens' courage but about humanity when all around ， even the country's struggle， seemed lost。 。。。more
Leanne
，
Read the first chapter and gave up。 I was just getting into the story and the author throws a quote in there like it’s a newspaper article which made me detach。 I couldn’t bring myself to tackle a brick of a book that would read that way。
Camden Hoeffner
，
Elizabeth Packard is the civil rights and women's rights activist you have never heard of。 She pioneered women's ability to speak， earn wages， and live independently both inside and outside the bounds of marriage。 In 1860， when Elizabeth beguns to openly disagree with the teachings of her very religious husband， he decides something must be done to protect his pride and his reputation。 Thankfully for him， the laws in the US （namely in Illinois） allowed for wives （and other women） to be committed Elizabeth Packard is the civil rights and women's rights activist you have never heard of。 She pioneered women's ability to speak， earn wages， and live independently both inside and outside the bounds of marriage。 In 1860， when Elizabeth beguns to openly disagree with the teachings of her very religious husband， he decides something must be done to protect his pride and his reputation。 Thankfully for him， the laws in the US （namely in Illinois） allowed for wives （and other women） to be committed to an asylum with little to no cause。 And thus， Elizabeth's decade's long fight to prove her sanity and the fight to allow others to do the same began。 I really enjoyed reading Radium Girls so when I was offered the chance to review this book， I was pretty excited。 Also， as a mental health professional I was very intrigued to learn about this pioneer who clearly had such a larg impact on many of our laws and yet I never learned about her！ The author did a great job at making this story alive and accessible despite the change in the times。 I found myself identifying with and empathizing with many of the problems and issues presented in this book， even today。 Makes you question how much has really changed over time。 It was clear the author did EXTENSIVE research to prepare for this novel。 However， the use of "quotes" and superscripts proved a bit excessive to me and at times disrupted the reading flow for me。 I use "quotes" because often， the author would use ONE WORD and put it in quotation marks with a superscript。 Almost every single chapter had 40-50 such quotes with superscripts and the Notes section of the book citing all of these was about 135 pages。 That just seems like a lot to me and as I said， it interrupted the reading flow and on some occasions did not meaningfully add to the message。 Thank you so much to NetGalley and Sourcebooks for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review！ 。。。more
Judie
，
Remarkable woman。 Amazing book。 Every woman should know about Elizabeth Packard。
Lani
，
Astonishing book about an astonishing woman。 I chose this one because I have long had a fascination with asylums。 I confess， I did not know about Elizabeth Packard at all， although I am very familiar with her time period。 She was not only very intelligent， she was full of moxie in a time when it wasn't appreciated， but was desperately needed。Yes， it's a long book， but in order to comprehend the strides Elizabeth made， you have to explore the situations which got her to the asylum as well as what Astonishing book about an astonishing woman。 I chose this one because I have long had a fascination with asylums。 I confess， I did not know about Elizabeth Packard at all， although I am very familiar with her time period。 She was not only very intelligent， she was full of moxie in a time when it wasn't appreciated， but was desperately needed。Yes， it's a long book， but in order to comprehend the strides Elizabeth made， you have to explore the situations which got her to the asylum as well as what happened to her while she was there。 Elizabeth turned a fight for her life and sanity into a fight for all women's rights and she did not give up。 Honestly， we probably have her to thank that more than half of us aren't in an asylum right now due to our "novel reading！" Really fascinating read and stay in it for the Post Script as well。 I listened to this on audio and it is narrated by the author herself。 I think she did a fabulous job and the way she presents this book vocally is the reason I stayed with it for the long haul of 15 hours。One of the best nonfiction books I have read this year。 Highly recommend！ 。。。more
Amy
，
This is an astounding story of a remarkable woman。 I was in utter disbelief at the events that happened to her and the strength and courage that she met every challenge in her life with。 She was placed in an insane asylum for disagreeing with her husband's religious beliefs and spent a total of 4 years imprisoned。 Her ability to withstand the horrors she experienced and to keep fighting for the rights of women and the mentally ill is inspiring。 I loved learning about her and the significant bill This is an astounding story of a remarkable woman。 I was in utter disbelief at the events that happened to her and the strength and courage that she met every challenge in her life with。 She was placed in an insane asylum for disagreeing with her husband's religious beliefs and spent a total of 4 years imprisoned。 Her ability to withstand the horrors she experienced and to keep fighting for the rights of women and the mentally ill is inspiring。 I loved learning about her and the significant bills and laws she eventually helped pass。The downside of the book is that it is too long。 Despite a riveting story， it is told in almost painstaking detail。。。you will literally feel that you have lived every single day of the 4 years with her。 It is very slow-moving in parts and the uneven pacing affects the whole story。 I read the first 1/3 and skimmed the rest until the end。 。。。more
Kierra
，
Fantastic。 I will probably forever list Moore’s first book， Radium Girls， as a favorite， so I held high hopes for this one。 I was not disappointed。 Different than Radium Girls， but it’s as impeccably researched， with a strong narrative thread。 Thanks to Moore， Elizabeth Packard will be carried in my heart， with gratitude， from here on。
Bella
，
4。5
Judy
，
What a remarkable story！！！ It's even worse when you know it's a true story。 Vividly describes the true repression of women。 I will never take my rights for granted after reading this book。 An amazing， heroic woman。 What a remarkable story！！！ It's even worse when you know it's a true story。 Vividly describes the true repression of women。 I will never take my rights for granted after reading this book。 An amazing， heroic woman。 。。。more
Pat
，
Elizabeth Packard is a woman we should all revere。 At the end of this very LONG non fiction account of her fight for women rights， Kate Moore say's: "We are acknowledging the debt we owe her but have never paid。 Ahead of her time， she challenged a patriarchal system and doctor-dominated world， compelling both to be better and fairer。 She did it all alone， bolstered only by her belief that she was right， in a world that continually told her she was wrong。 She fought every day of her life to make Elizabeth Packard is a woman we should all revere。 At the end of this very LONG non fiction account of her fight for women rights， Kate Moore say's: "We are acknowledging the debt we owe her but have never paid。 Ahead of her time， she challenged a patriarchal system and doctor-dominated world， compelling both to be better and fairer。 She did it all alone， bolstered only by her belief that she was right， in a world that continually told her she was wrong。 She fought every day of her life to make things better， dedicating her life to others， wanting justice for all。" p。 473 。。。more
Bobby Hattaway
，
Coverture: a legal system that removed all rights a married woman had。 In the case of Elizabeth Packard and 1000's of others， they were interned in mental hospitals because their thinking disagreed with the opinions their husband held。 No trial， no hearing; they were gathered up by friends of the husband and thrown into a cruel and unfeeling "mental health" system to be abused， ignored and tortured。 Coverture: a legal system that removed all rights a married woman had。 In the case of Elizabeth Packard and 1000's of others， they were interned in mental hospitals because their thinking disagreed with the opinions their husband held。 No trial， no hearing; they were gathered up by friends of the husband and thrown into a cruel and unfeeling "mental health" system to be abused， ignored and tortured。 。。。more
Linda
，
By the author of The Radium Girls: The Dark Story of America's Shining Women， Kate Moore jumps into the story of Elizabeth Packard with both feet。 All of us women who feel free to express our opinions really have Elizabeth Packard to thank for our being able to do that without experiencing what she did - confinement in a mental institution。 And， she was not alone。 She spent about 3 years confined because her husband had her committed and found a willing assistant in the Dr。 who oversaw the facil By the author of The Radium Girls: The Dark Story of America's Shining Women， Kate Moore jumps into the story of Elizabeth Packard with both feet。 All of us women who feel free to express our opinions really have Elizabeth Packard to thank for our being able to do that without experiencing what she did - confinement in a mental institution。 And， she was not alone。 She spent about 3 years confined because her husband had her committed and found a willing assistant in the Dr。 who oversaw the facility。 Mrs。 Packard was not the only one and （surprise， surprise） the treatment by the facilities employees left A LOT to be desired。This synopsis is just the tip of the story。 There were multiple court cases， her husband packed up their children and moved to another state and on and on。Read it for yourself and be as stunned as I was。 。。。more
Gabriel Ealy
，
This book was impossible to step away from。 The book itself is written so wonderfully， with historical reports to support the shocking accounts that took place against married women and patients committed to asylums in the 19th century。 Elizabeth Packard is a name that should be well known among those who made great strides in the women’s rights movement as well as the rights of penitentiary patients。 I was so liberated after reading this novel。 The strength， intelligence， and unconditional love This book was impossible to step away from。 The book itself is written so wonderfully， with historical reports to support the shocking accounts that took place against married women and patients committed to asylums in the 19th century。 Elizabeth Packard is a name that should be well known among those who made great strides in the women’s rights movement as well as the rights of penitentiary patients。 I was so liberated after reading this novel。 The strength， intelligence， and unconditional love and respect Elizabeth maintains， despite the cruel circumstances she faced from her many adversaries is nothing short of amazing and inspiring。 This novel is a MUST for anyone looking for their next read， I’m positive you’ll find it as hard as I did to put it down。 。。。more
Jackie Coleman
，
This is an amazing story。 Every woman should know about what happened to Elizabeth Packard， and what she did to fight back and create change。 Excellent read。
Heather
，
Wow！ This book leaves me speechless。 It is heart breaking and inspiring all under 1 cover。
Cindywue
，
Kate Moore tells the incredible story of Elizabeth Packard， a woman who was wrongly （although legally） committed to an insane asylum by her husband。 Her “crime” was thinking and speaking her own thoughts。 Because she kept fighting for herself and “her sisters” laws were changed to help women。 Always speak up。 Never give up。
Caroline Beachum
，
This is the second of Kate Moore's books and I enjoyed this one tremendously！ Elizabeth Packard is a very interesting and relatively unknown historical figure。 I am grateful to Moore for shedding light on this bold， honorable， and courageous woman！ I listened to this title on audio and felt that Kate Moore as the narrator brought Elizabeth to life even more。 The first several chapters were particularly engaging- I was immediately drawn into Elizabeth's struggle against her husband who plotted to This is the second of Kate Moore's books and I enjoyed this one tremendously！ Elizabeth Packard is a very interesting and relatively unknown historical figure。 I am grateful to Moore for shedding light on this bold， honorable， and courageous woman！ I listened to this title on audio and felt that Kate Moore as the narrator brought Elizabeth to life even more。 The first several chapters were particularly engaging- I was immediately drawn into Elizabeth's struggle against her husband who plotted to get her unrightfully detained in an asylum。 I believe this book demonstrates much better pacing and engagement than Moore's first book， Radium Girls。 I am looking forward to her next historical topic！ 。。。more
Susanne Latour
，
I had a very difficult time getting into this book。 Just like with Radium Girls Kate Moore did extensive research into the life of Elizabeth Packard a women I had never heard of。 While Elizabeth’s story is one that needs to be told and heard I found this book to be boring and too long。 The second half was better but by then I was ready to be done。 I’m disappointed for not liking this book as much as I did Radium Girls but the story and character just didn’t hold my attention like women in Radium I had a very difficult time getting into this book。 Just like with Radium Girls Kate Moore did extensive research into the life of Elizabeth Packard a women I had never heard of。 While Elizabeth’s story is one that needs to be told and heard I found this book to be boring and too long。 The second half was better but by then I was ready to be done。 I’m disappointed for not liking this book as much as I did Radium Girls but the story and character just didn’t hold my attention like women in Radium Girls did。 。。。more
Ariel Curry
，
Absolutely incredible true story of Elizabeth Packard， who was wrongfully imprisoned in an insane asylum in 1860， because her religious beliefs differed from her husband's。 She was torn away from her six children by force， and shut away for over three years。 Unfortunately， her case was mild compared to many of the women she met there。 Elizabeth used her time in the asylum to write an illicit journal and observe all she could about the treatment of the mentally ill， vowing to become a voice for t Absolutely incredible true story of Elizabeth Packard， who was wrongfully imprisoned in an insane asylum in 1860， because her religious beliefs differed from her husband's。 She was torn away from her six children by force， and shut away for over three years。 Unfortunately， her case was mild compared to many of the women she met there。 Elizabeth used her time in the asylum to write an illicit journal and observe all she could about the treatment of the mentally ill， vowing to become a voice for the voiceless after her release。 And she did。 After her release and eventual acquittal， her husband still had primary custody of her children and refused to let her see them。 But she poured her energy into changing legislation and advocating for the rights of married women and the mentally ill everywhere。 The world owes Elizabeth Packard so much for her efforts - and reading this book is a good place to start。 。。。more
Becky
，
Great book if a little long。 I love books that are about more than one issue。 In this case the issues are women’s rights （specifically married women） and how we treat the mentally ill。 Both still important topics。
Laurie
，
Thank you Elizabeth Packard！！！！！！！！！！！！！ Without you， who knows how many sane married women would end up in the looney bin。
smalltownbookmom
，
An incredible and profoundly moving narrative nonfiction account of Elizabeth Packard's fight for women's rights and mental health care in mid-19th century America。 I knew women were essentially the property of their husbands and subject to their control but hearing about how Elizabeth Packard was sent to an insane asylum in 1860 simply because her husband thought she was too outspoken and claimed her to be insane was unbelievable。 Even worse than her husband's treatment was the way Dr。 Andrew M An incredible and profoundly moving narrative nonfiction account of Elizabeth Packard's fight for women's rights and mental health care in mid-19th century America。 I knew women were essentially the property of their husbands and subject to their control but hearing about how Elizabeth Packard was sent to an insane asylum in 1860 simply because her husband thought she was too outspoken and claimed her to be insane was unbelievable。 Even worse than her husband's treatment was the way Dr。 Andrew McFarland ran the Illinois Insane Asylum。 The sad thing is she was not an unusual example， what made her stand out though was that she fought back。 She kept secret journals about the conditions and treatment of the other women， many who were as sane as her and later fought in the courts to change laws regarding the institutionalization of women and to get Dr。 Andrew McFarland removed from his position。 Kate Moore did an amazing job using first hand accounts written by Packard herself to tell this story that history has largely forgotten。 Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for my advance listening copy of this great book！Favorite quotes:"In reality doctors were policing women who stepped outside society's strictly defined gender spheres - work and intellect for men， home and children for women。。。one common cause of committal during Elizabeth's time was novel reading。 Doctors believed that those who indulged in this pernicious habit lived a dreamy kind of existence so nearly allied to insanity that the slightest exciting cause was sufficient to derange。""Women were sent to asylums for causing the greatest annoyances to their families or for defying all domestic control。 The asylum was in short， a storage unit for unsatisfactory wives。""Wronged women were not supposed to stand up for themselves or come out fighting or be angry or battle for injustice to be overturned。 Elizabeth's cause was unnatural in his eyes and therefore insane。""Ahead of her time she challenged a patriarchal system and a doctor dominated world。 She did it all alone bolstered only by the belief that she was right in a world that continually told her she was wrong。 She fought every day of her life to make things better， dedicating her life to others， wanting justice for all。 She was torn down for it， her reputation ravaged， yet she squared her shoulders and dusted herself off after every single setback。" 。。。more
Jennifer
，
Reading this book in the midst of Britney Spears’ legal troubles was *whew* Throughly recommended if you are interested in mental health， public health， the history of the treatment of mental disorders， and women’s history etc etc。
Linda Gabel
，
What a phenomenal woman！ Her persistence and commitment to insuring changes for all women within the ‘system’ was rather overwhelming。 Yet， I had never heard the name Elizabeth Packard prior to this reading。 She changed all women’s lives through her tremendous efforts to allow women’s minds and opinions to be acknowledged and valued。 And along the way learned a lot about herself。 She simply never gave up， never let her reputation which was always under attack， get in her way。Overall the writing What a phenomenal woman！ Her persistence and commitment to insuring changes for all women within the ‘system’ was rather overwhelming。 Yet， I had never heard the name Elizabeth Packard prior to this reading。 She changed all women’s lives through her tremendous efforts to allow women’s minds and opinions to be acknowledged and valued。 And along the way learned a lot about herself。 She simply never gave up， never let her reputation which was always under attack， get in her way。Overall the writing pulled me into the story and kept me reading。 It is quite an extraordinary example of how one woman can make changes to values and perceptions。 However， in my opinion it could be a bit shorter as it did drag in a few places。 Although Mrs。 Packard did initiate many， many changes for women， it is incredible to me that one can still find examples of similar treatment of women today。 She is an important example of what one woman can do with such deep commitment to issues。 Overall， a very good read。 Thanks to ARC for allowing me a copy of this book。 。。。more
Erin McMahon
，
This was a great book。 It was hard to read at times due to the horrors that Elizabeth Packard had to go through but well worth it。 She was ahead of her time and we all owe her deep gratitude。
Tena DeGraaf
，
Couldn’t put this work of narrative nonfiction down by Kate Moore， author of Radium Girls。 Illinois friends-the setting begins in 1860 in Manteno， IL 。 From the inside jacket， “Another dark， dramatic but ultimately uplifting tale of a forgotten woman whose harrowing story changed the world。” Kate is an amazing researcher and storyteller。 The main character’s integrity， courage， and self-sacrifice is so inspiring！ I am SO glad Kate took the time to research and tell this incredible story！
Lisa Friedmann
，
Excellent book about one womans decision to fight for women's rights。 Frightening to read about how husbands could literally lock a wife up if she spoke her mind。 I encourage every woman to read it。 Excellent book about one womans decision to fight for women's rights。 Frightening to read about how husbands could literally lock a wife up if she spoke her mind。 I encourage every woman to read it。 。。。more
Meg
，