The Woman They Could Not Silence: The Shocking Story of a Woman Who Dared to Fight Back by Kate Moore

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Web ID: 14352748

From the New York Times, USA Today, and Wall Street Journal bestselling author of The Radium Girls comes another dark and dramatic but ultimately uplifting tale of a forgotten woman whose inspirational journey sparked lasting change for women's rights and exposed injustices that still resonate today. "Moore has written a masterpiece of nonfiction."-Nathalia Holt, New York Times bestselling author of Rise of the Rocket Girls1860: 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.

  • Product Features

    • Author - Kate Moore
    • Publisher - Sourcebooks
    • Publication Date - 02-22-2022
    • Page Count - 560
    • Paperback
    • Adult
    • U.S. History
    • Product Dimensions - 5.5 H x 8.2 W x 1.7 D
    • ISBN-13 - 9781728242576
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Ratings & Reviews

4.8/5

9 star ratings & reviews

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2 months ago
from Wisconsin

Great History Read about a Determined Woman

This book held me from the beginning to the end. It's well researched and very interesting. The idea that a husband could have his wife locked up as insane, on basically just his say so, in the 1860s is incredible. Elizabeth Packard spent several years in an asylum before she was released. And then her husband plotted to have her committed to another asylum. I'm glad Moore decided to tell Elizabeth Packard's story. The history of women, like so many other marginalized people is often overlooked.

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Customer review from barnesandnoble.com

1 year ago
from Rexburg, ID

This true story is WILD!

This true story is WILD! It surprised me, but also didn’t at the same time. Elizabeth’s life is one for the history books - a woman who was wrongfully imprisoned in an insane asylum for years by her husband for her differing views on religion. She did so much for women and I consider her a hero. Also, poor Libby. You have to wonder what her life would have been like if things had been different. This is yet another historical example of the validity of feminine rage. 😤

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Customer review from barnesandnoble.com

2 years ago
from Minneapolis, Ks

oh. my. God.

I just recently finished this book and it truly changed how I look at the way women are treated. I don't want to be sappy about feminism or anything of the sort, but the book truly changed how I look at feminism. Elizabeth Packard is a woman who DESERVES to be brought up in history classes. To be discussed in English class. So, why have I never heard of her? This book is beautifully written and I loved every moment and turn it took me on.

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Customer review from barnesandnoble.com

2 years ago
from Matthews, NC

The Woman They Could Not Silence

The Woman They Could Not Silence opened my eyes to the past injuries endured by women in the United States. This book details the efforts of Elizabeth Packard as her husband had her committed to the Illinois State Hospital for insanity. Mrs. Packard spent over three years fighting to be released from this asylum. Once she wins freedom, Mrs. Packard fights to change the rules about a husband’s right to have his wife taken away as insane. The story happens during 1860 to 1869 when the United States fought to end slavery for Negroes and the black population won freedom, but not women. The horrors of the State Hospital and the total disregard of the doctors amazed this reader. Two books have illustrated the second class status of women in the history of the 1460’s in China and the 1860’s in Illinois.

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Customer review from barnesandnoble.com

3 years ago
from Jacksonville, IL

Highly recommend!

I do not want to include any spoilers, I will say that this book is great. My grandma recommend it to me and by the time I reached the end, it’s just crazy to think about life back then. I have to also commend the author for the amount of research and sources used is her novels. While it doesn’t feel like a research paper, there’s definitely enough evidence used to be one! One of my favorite books ever!

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Customer review from barnesandnoble.com

3 years ago
from TX

Truly the Stuff of Nightmares

This is truly the stuff of nightmares. A tale so unbelievable that it must be true, and makes me thankful that I live in the era that I do. This was “an era where the superiority of men was almost unquestioned,” so even with all the issues that we as women continue to face in our present time, we have still made great strides in the grand scheme of things. I know that injustice spans throughout our entire existence as a species, but reading such abhorrent treatment, and seeing unfathomable dominance just because of a persons sex, or because they weren’t obedient to man’s rules for them, made me physically ill. I found myself thinking unladylike thoughts just reading about these heinous acts, so I commend Elizabeth for leaning on her firm foundation of faith, and having the strength and steadfastness to not act out, but to keep a calm demeanor, and attack when she believed it would have the most impact. I honestly think my emotions wouldn’t have allowed me to do the same, and fear I would’ve been one of the physically tortured souls for my tongue alone. I shudder at this thought, and cannot let my mind drift there, otherwise there will be real nightmares plaguing my dreams tonight. Elizabeth Packard was deemed insane all because she refused to yield to her husband’s iron fist. The sacrifices she had to make to stand up for what she believed in is insurmountable, especially having to miss her children growing up. That thought alone would’ve given me pause, but Elizabeth’s moral compass was strong, rarely wavering from due north, and she fought like no other woman before her, refusing to yield until true change occurred. This is not a quick read by any stretch of the imagination, and actually took me months to read, as I slowly savored every tidbit, feeding on every morsel of inhumane injustice that was endured by Mrs. Packard and all the other “mentally ill” patients of the Jacksonville Insane Asylum. I hate that Elizabeth Packard is seemingly forgotten, but I am hoping that this novel will help bring wisdom to just how much her fight did for the laws not only for women’s rights but for mental health as well. Thank you Elizabeth Packard, as well as all the other pioneers that fought the good fight before us, and for the author for bringing this unbelievable story to light. *I have voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book which I received from Sourcebooks through NetGalley. All views and opinions expressed are completely honest, and my own.

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Customer review from barnesandnoble.com

3 years ago
from Springfield, IL

It was as good as Radium Girls.

SInce I live in mid Illinois, I was familiar with the asylum and many places mentioned. But, it was so well written, and chapters just flowed and made it an interesting story.

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Customer review from barnesandnoble.com

3 years ago
from Bakersfield, CA

Astounding Woman!

I was positively amazed by the strength and fortitude of Elizabeth Packard who defied the odds and became a true voice for women. She endured being put into an insane asylum when she was never insane and helped pass legislation making sure no person could be committed without an insanity trial. This is a must read for every woman who has ever fought against injustices in their lives.

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Customer review from barnesandnoble.com