The Woman They Could Not Silence

One Woman, Her Incredible Fight for Freedom, and the Men Who Tried to Make Her Disappear

By: Kate Moore

Narrated by: Kate Moore

Length: 14 hrs and 36 mins

Publisher's summary

From the New York Times, USA Today, and Wall Street Journal best-selling 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.

The year 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 21 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....

Best-selling author Kate Moore brings her sparkling narrative voice to The Woman They Could Not Silence, a story of the forgotten woman who courageously fought for her own freedom - and in so doing freed millions more. Elizabeth’s refusal to be silenced and her ceaseless quest for justice not only challenged the medical science of the day and led to a giant leap forward in human rights, it also showcased the most salutary lesson: Sometimes, the greatest heroes we have are those inside ourselves.

©2021 Kate Moore (P)2021 Blackstone Publishing

Critic reviews

LibraryReads Pick, 2021

Wow-what a great woman-what a great book.

She was—is—an awe-inspiring person. The amount of skillful humanitarian work she did throughout her life is almost unbelievable. I don’t think I have ever read/listened to the biography of someone who possessed such tenacity—eventually thriving despite abuse, insult, disregard, cruelty, torture, setback, loss…and to be spat upon and scorned by husband, “doctors,” clergy, newspaper editors, neighbors, politicians, and strangers! She could be called a saint, a bodhisattva, or whatever term you could use to try to describe a person who strives every day for those who need help the most. I could go on. But just get the book, you’ll see.

Brilliant

Kate Moore does a great job telling the true story of Elizabeth Packard while immersing the reader in prose that have you following along in real time as if it were fiction. She also does an excellent job narrating the book with proper tone. The British accent was a bit comical considering it is an American History story but I’m a sucker for a good British accent so it worked for me. Brilliant job all around Kate Moore.

Riveting

An amazing true story of a woman I had never heard of before, but wish all women could know. about.

Oh, my goodness...

What a compelling story of One woman's refusal to burn for the ambition of the men in her life. Every woman I know has been accused of being crazy for the either sin of expressing her emotion, or holding it in check... May we all take inspiration from Elizabeth, and rise from the very ashes of our pyres!

gripping and shocking little known history

a beautifully narrated tale of the women's rights movement in America. a hero's tale filled with triumphs and setbacks

Stunning story

I am filled with gratitude for Elizabeth Packard's determination and dedication to her cause.

Absolutely incredible!

A total page turner! One of my favorite books to date! It gave me a whole new appreciation for all those women who gave so much for women's rights.

excellent book!

at first I was angry at how people were being treated. then I realized that is because of injustice that things change in the world. great unknown story! (at least to me)

Moving and Necessary Reading

The author narrates this with a satisfying passion. Not many authors are skilled at narrating their work, best left to talented actors, but Kate Moore is great at narrating her work. I was moved from shock, to anger and admiration, and finally to tears in reading this book. I am better equipped to discern the current challenges to women's rights for having read it.

Inspiring!

What an inspiring account of one woman’s fight for justice and equality! And how unfortunate that there is still work to be done.