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

an important story not to be ignored

This is a remarkable book. It's well-written, informative, and thought provoking. The book follows the struggles of Elizabeth Packard as she is wrongfully put in an insane asylum, committed at the request of her own husband in 1860. You might wonder if this was an uncommon occurrence. You might be not-so-pleasantly surprised to find out that many of the committed were sent to the asylum wrongfully, and many of those were women.

Women were at the mercy of a system that did not treat them as autonomous human beings. If they were married they were almost as property of their husbands. In most states the husband could make decisions like having them committed with very little proof. A doctor or two could sign away a woman's rights and she had little to no recourse and legal standing. She was stuck.

It didn't take much. Elizabeth Packard downfall was that she was outspoken and intelligent. Women were committed for having so-called female troubles; Heaven forbid that you should have irregular and painful menstrual cycles. A woman could be sent away just because she liked to read novels. Just imagine being sent away today for reading novels or maybe today's equivalent of watching television and movies.

Elizabeth Packard was not going to accept her unjust situation. She felt as if she were unfairly jailed. She learned that others were also in there wrongly and tried to help them as well. This story is an incredible journey as one woman fought the system with intelligence and persistence. She didn't just want to be free, but wanted to change the system that allowed her to be put away and kept away for years. She was separated from her children and suffered greatly. She was a heroine for all time, a champion for the rights of women and anyone falsely locked away for being "mad".

The author reads her book and does an excellent job. I borrowed the ebook from the library as well so I could see the pictures. There are extensive notes and a bibliography in the ebook. I wish they were in a PDF file with the audiobook.

Excellence

Kate Moore’s words were fluid. They carried my imagination away as if I was there, with Elizabeth. Exceptionally well written story!

I cannot recommend this enough

It’s such an illuminating book. I was enthralled with it from the beginning. Just wow.

Critically important women’s history non fiction.

Well written, important to acknowledge, historically accurate portrayal of women’s many legal battles to obtain freedom and human rights. Important historical reference of treatment of mentally or not mentally ill women in America in the 19th century. Should be read by every woman. Captivating and an amazing example of what one woman can do for thousands of others.

Strong and amazing woman’s fight for injustice. Makes one feel impowered.

I recommend this book highly. Could not stop listening to this wonderful production.
I loved the narration.

Fabulous read or listen to.

Incredible that at my age? I can’t recal ever learning and out Elizabeth Packard. What a a brilliant woman with solid determination. Wondery written and a great listen. I hope our youth iearning are learning what women have been fighting for to be our own person. Highly recommend.

Remarkable!

I am shocked and yet not. Throughout the book, over and over again, my breath was taken away by the horror of what was being done. Having had a great, great aunt, a grandmother, and then a mother and myself all deemed insane with various forms of “crazy” by men who were weaker and smaller, always used as a weapon to dismiss an opinion or perspective, or even facts. My grandmother and my great, great aunt were both subjected to asylums by just the word of their husbands. The shocks continue all the way through the postscript. This is a must read for all students of psychiatry as well as high school students in psychology.
I shall take flowers to her grave in Roselawn.

Inspiring!

What an absolutely riveting tale! It was awe inspiring. I feel as if listening to how the main character claimed her power amidst circumstances out of her control, has helped me in a season of uncertainty see how I too can navigate turbulent waters.

everyone should listen

not just for what happened in the past but for its unfulfilled promise and parallel to current events. if you are familiar with Illinois you will recognize many of the aspects and names.

I could not stop listening to this book.

This book was fantastic! Elizabeth Packard was truly an amazing and inspirational women! I also really enjoyed listening to the author Kate Moore!