The Woman They Could Not Silence

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

De: Kate Moore

Narrado por: Kate Moore

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

Reseñas de la Crítica

LibraryReads Pick, 2021

read this NOW

Book pick of the week. SERIOUSLY! This needs to be on everyone's list. It tells the true story of Elizabeth Packard's unjustified commitment to the Illinois state hospital, her fight for freedom, and her crusade to better the conditions for both women and mental health patients. She was decades ahead of her time. This book took me on an emotional Rollercoaster and gave me chills.

Her Song Unsung For Too Long, Yet She Persisted & She Overcame

I have listened r::4twice to this well-written biography of mid-19th century activist Elizabeth Packard. Beautifully narrated by the Author, this book is a synopsis of Mental Health & Women's Rights struggles during & immediately post-the U.S. Civil War. Those diagnosed as "INSANE" were committed by husbands, held against their will for indefinite terms & tortured by incompetent staff (e.g. waterboarded). A Wife in Illinois (& many other States) held the same status under their Husband as did a Slave to their Slaveowner; they were legal property. Even today, cities & landmarks remain named after Scoundrels who colluded to keep Women & Slaves from autonomy & power over Self.

A wonderful read

What beautiful story-telling of the life of a truly remarkable woman. My life has forever been changed by listening to this book.

Wow!

How can I not have heard of Elizabeth Picard before this! Shame on me. What a revelation this book was! It should be required reading.

An inspirational story of a true heroine!

This is the amazing story of an amazing woman who worked hard to overcome the stigma of insanity, the stigma that came from being forced into an insane asylum by her husband, who didn't like her attitude. So well written and well read! Both a painful read and an inspirational story of a true heroine!

A truly incredulous true story of a women 1860's!!

This women's story, struggle, sacrifice, legacy, perseverance, is truly mind blowing. We owe many of our rights, freedoms and quality of life as females and wives and mothers to this women's work! Then the author, her writing style is exquisite, even her voice and accent couldn't be more fitting for narrating, I highly recommend this book on audible over reading it in print!!

Wow

What a masterpiece of a book that gives the due credit to the amazing and inspiring Elizabeth Packard.

Great book

The struggles have been long suffered by women. We fight for our rights, our equality, our voices, and our sanity. Elizabeth Packard lead the way and we can’t stop now!
The book was very enlightening. The ending surprising. Worth reading. Again. And again.

an incredible story, thoroughly enjoyed the audio

a suspenseful tale, I was pulling for Elizabeth the whole way! This is history that everyone should know about.

I had no idea

I’m so grateful for books like this that shed light on how incredible women are and how lucky, as a woman, I am.