Kate Moore's "The Woman Who Could Not Be Silenced"

Jan Higley: The Woman They Could Not Silence is a riveting account of Elizabeth Packard’s fight to free herself from wrongly being incarcerated in the Jacksonville Insane Asylum by her husband. In Illinois there were no rights for married women. This is Elizabeth’s fight to free herself and fight for those wrongly put in the Asylum as well, by changing the law.
You live Elizabeth’s life because Kate Moore’s writing is a page turner.

United States on Jan 03, 2024

lupinfield: I don't generally write reviews, but this book is truly amazing, and told so extremely well that it reads like a novel even though it is a true story. Without women like Elizabeth Packard, our society's treatment of women might still be similar to how women are treated today in some conservative Middle Eastern countries! Married women had absolutely no rights at all in the mid-1800s in the US! Elizabeth Packard was committed to an insane asylum because she had different views on religion than her husband. She was perfectly sane, but wound up having to remain incarcerated in the asylum for 3 yrs. During that time, she found many other women who were unfairly incarcerated, and witnessed horrific abuse of the "patients". This book was an eye-opener and showed how one person can make a difference in the world! Wow!!

United States on Nov 24, 2023

kc: So there are already a lot of reviews, but I wanted to comment on the fact that I was worried this book would be too dark & difficult to read, possibly triggering to victims of abuse, etc. I have not found that to be the case. Yes, it is about a very dark time in history for women. But throughout it all, Elizabeth has strong faith, and remains positive and defiant. Whatever happens, her attitude is this is the situation I'm in now, how can I make something good out of it. And she never backs down and stops fighting. Also the book is very well written; it just flows so well you just suddenly are another 100 pages in, which is incredible for a book about something so awful. I think all women should read this book. Also I think they should pay attention to how the men in their lives react to it. This book will make you very angry though, and defiant. What bothered me the most is a lot of people never even knew about this horrifying time in history. But it probably won't be too dark or triggering to read so I wanted to address that, as that had been my concern about reading it. I never leave reviews but this book is worth reading, and it is important.

United States on Nov 19, 2023

Watson: My daughter asked if I was “enjoying” this book. My reply was that this is not a book to be “enjoyed”. The truth of it is disturbing. But I continued till the end because it is always good to learn about history. Especially when it focuses on people who fight for justice and truth. My main disappointment was in the epilogue where the histories of a brave woman and an evil man are distorted to reflect the lasting power of some men while minimizing or ignoring the accomplishments of one who stands up for justice and humane treatment of all. It also mentions that in spite of nearly 2 centuries that has passed we are still plagued by these similar recent events in the 21st century. It saddens me to be reminded of our ongoing subjugation.

United States on Nov 14, 2023

Patricia Ibarra: Women in the 19th century lived very difficult lives in the United States and, in general in the entire world, as they were not acknowledged as valuable by men and society. This is the true story of Elizabeth Packard, a housewife with 6 children, married to a man who became very unhappy with her because she dared to give her opinion and even disagreed with his way of thinking, something that was not seen and could not be accepted in those times. She became increasingly articulate, complaining of the status women had. So she had to resort to the practical solution to deal with this type of woman: they committed her to a psychiatric hospital because most surely she was "insane". There she had to deal with Dr. McFarland who made her life hell. She would not keep her mouth shut and embarked on the fight of her life. She managed to be judged in court and was one of the first women to struggle to change the way women lived, were seen, and treated.

United States on Oct 18, 2023

Lee W: I found it a bit overlong but compelling and hard to put down. Also found that it wasn't until 1974 that women did not need a male signatory to get a credit card. In 1967 in Australia I had worked and supported myself for years and yet needed a guarantor to get a card with minimum credit. ABSURD.
But that is my story, Elizabeth Packard's story is far more heart rendering as well as her incredible ability to fight injustice and see wrongs righted, even as she was slurred for her efforts, even as women are slurred today. Highly recommended reading.

Australia on Aug 16, 2023

Lauri Sim: Another remarkable woman who has been lost to history, this is an absolutely astounding tale of strength, resilience, dignity and faith in justice. This book will make you so so angry, I echo what another reviewer said about it maybe not being bed time reader but the beuaty and self sacrifice shown in this book is humbly astonishing. This woman would not be broken and always dedicated herself not just to her own safety and freedom but the care and compasison of others and her tireless works for the care and justice of others is so admirable. Please read this book.

United Kingdom on Jul 10, 2023

Mrs. A. Thornton: I was deeply shocked , so angry at times I decided to not read it just before going to sleep. I knew women's rights were non existent in the 1800s but reading the facts was awful , distressing. Really opened my eyes. And what an amazing woman Elizabeth Packard was. Why have I never heard of her before? Her name should b as recognisable as Emily Pankhurst and Florence Nightingale. What intelligence, what strength, what bravery...and what kindness and compassion too. Made a huge impact on me. Would highly recommend.this book. If u haven't read it, add it to yr list!! X

United Kingdom on Oct 09, 2022

Thor: This is the story of Elizabeth Packard, an advocate for the rights of those incarcerated in mental asylums. This story, herself and others WHILE imprisoned in an Illinois asylum. Elizabeth was clearly not insane, nor were countless women also incarcerated there. The law of the day (and in the US up until the 1970s) allowed a husband to discard his wife who dared to think, question and have opinions differing from her spouse. The book details how easy it was for men to punish wives and daughters for daring to think and question the beliefs and opinions of men. Definitions of insanity amounted to thinking on her own. There was no known time for incarceration or criteria for release. The conditions for release were not known to the women and contact with loved ones was blocked by the director. The clear abuse of authority that existed then is worth reading for it exists today in different forms. While we don't have a tongue-piercing instrument to "filter" our words, we are still oppressed by the male patriarchal system. The details are there and the writing flows beautifully. As a nurse who worked in psychiatry for decades and now a researcher on patient advocacy, I strongly...

Canada on Jan 19, 2022

veilalice: I bought this book to help me through a very tough time as a woman. Elizabeth Packard's relentlessness reminds me that we have to keep going if we want justice! I'd consider this book a biography of a powerful woman who was wronged by her own family, thrown into an inhumane institution, and who dug herself out of the sexist, misogynistic, patriarchal hole that was formed around her.

The Woman They Could Not Silence will remind you, long after you finish reading, that women before you fought tooth and nail for current rights. It also will remind you of the harsh realities of how women are still being hushed, silenced, muffled, you name it! It's ungodly to have an opinion, how dare you!

This is the type of book that can prepare your willpower and mentality for a court case if you ever have to due to S.A., human rights violation, or anything that tried to threaten your equality/equity as a woman.

For the men that read or are about to read this book, I strongly suggest you take it seriously as it is based on reality. This is the kind of garbage routine that is still happening, except it's in different forms and much better disguised. If you feel defensive reading...

Canada on Nov 22, 2021