A Summary
In 1860, as the United States was on the brink of the Civil War, one woman was already entrenched in a battle – with her own husband. Theophilus Packard had been plotting and scheming against his wife for her intellect, outspokenness, and her unwillingness to conform to his religious views. And the summer of 1860, his plans came to fruition. Elizabeth Packard was committed to an insane asylum. The Woman They Could Not Silence by Kate Moore is her incredible true story, detailing her time in the Illinois State Hospital and her fight for her freedom.
Engaging Account
I picked this nonfiction account on a whim waiting on other holds to come available. I was very quickly sucked in by Moore’s writing and dramatization of Elizabeth’s tragic story. Moore brought Elizabeth and her circumstances completely to life.
Although it was a lengthy book, it moved quickly; it never got boring, stagnant, or bogged down in details and history. Occasionally, her word choices seemed dramatic or a bit over the top for the situation. But all in all, I thought the writing was good.
A Role Model for Women
As for the story, wow! It was crazy and so interesting. Elizabeth, in my opinion, was a wonderful role model for women. She was smart, clever, hard-working, perseverant, selfless, and loving. She cared deeply for others, but she also protected herself with boundaries.
The things she – and the other women committed in the asylum – went through under the “care” of Dr. McFarland was horrifying. My heart hurt for the women (and men) who faced those conditions. My heart further shattered as Elizabeth spoke of and grieved the absence of her children.
A mother of six, she upheld motherhood and homemaking alongside knowledge and study, and it was a beautiful thing to read about. Therefore, it was all the more sorrowful as her husband kept her children from her, and her arms ached for them.
The way Elizabeth navigated her situation with such grace and intentionality was inspiring. I really rooted for her, and reading about not only how she managed her release but also her divorce from Theophilus was very interesting. Moved from the horrible conditions of the asylums at the time, Elizabeth didn’t just stop there. She campaigned for better conditions and laws to be passed to protect women from being thrown into asylums and declared “insane” with no evidence or trial.
Final Thoughts
The Woman They Could Not Silence was a great book, and despite the sobering material, it was quite fascinating. I definitely recommend this nonfiction account, especially to those interested in women’s rights and the Civil War. Elizabeth Packard is a great inspiration. What a formidable woman!
Content Rating: Mild
for subject matter, including abuse
Copyright Kate Moore and Sourcebooks. Image from Amazon.
Thank you for this. It sounds fascinating and I hadn’t heard of it. I will be requesting it for my library!
Hi Lori! Let us know what you think once you’ve read it!