I wanted to read this book because I loved Radium Girls. It was good, definitely worth reading. If you are a nonfiction reader it is worth picking up.

It's a good thing that Kate Moore stated plainly at the beginning of her book that all quotes came directly from letter, diary entries, the public record, or the like, because otherwise one could think that this is a work of fiction. That's a testament both to the quality of the writing and to the nearly unbelievable nature of the story. The intersection of the lack of married womens' rights and conditions in mental institutions in the 1860s was, to put it mildly, a horror show. Through meticulous and thorough research, Moore brings us the story of Elizabeth Packard, one woman determined not to let either stop her in her struggle for her independence and that of the woman around her. She is to be lauded for the masterful way in which she's brought Elizabeth Packard's voice and fight both to life and to light.

I struggled to get into this one. I loved Kate Moore's last book, and I think this may have more to do with my headspace in the spring of 2021 than it did with the subject matter. This is obviously very well-researched and a fascinating topic. I found myself really disturbed by everything that Elizabeth was put through, especially at the hands of her husband.

I love Kate Moore's writing style. You can really tell that she puts so much time, energy and research into her works. I love that she has a writing style that is easily understandable for anyone who might be reading.

This story baffled me. I heard stories where people, especially women were committed to asylums but reading first hand accounts of how they were treated and how husbands had complete control? It's pure terror. And this isn't a made up story. This actually happened. Again, I'm just baffled. But the author does such an amazing job telling the story. I love how the books she writes and will continue to read them all.

The story of Elizabeth Packard is inspiring and frustrating, and, honestly, so was this book. I really admire the time that Kate Moore has put into researching Packard in order to fully tell her story. It is truly quite a feat. However, this book went on and on for absolutely ever, and I felt myself growing tired of it towards the end.

I think The Woman They Could Not Silence could – and should – have been condensed. At almost 600 pages, the book spends a lot of time going into detail of what happened to Elizabeth Packard when she was in the asylum, but not much time going into her background or the events after her release. Of course, the amount of time Packard spent in the asylum was significant, but I would have liked more focus on what came after if the book had to be this long.

I’m a little disappointed because I read The Radium Girls by this author a few years ago and adored it. I’ve been recommending it every time someone asks for a non-fiction rec. This one, however, while detailed and admirable, was far too long and dragged out for my liking.

What a book! This book was fascinating, infuriating and inspirational. Elizabeth Packard is 43 when her older husband of twenty plus years commits her to an insane asylum because he believes her mad. As it is the mid-1800s, Elizabeth has no rights as a married woman and no way to escape the Jacksonville Insane Asylum without the blessing of her husband or of the asylum’s superintendent, Dr. McFarland. Detailing Elizabeth’s life in the asylum, separated from her children and her fight to get free, Elizabeth Packard’s story should be required reading.

A fascinating story of one woman's fight for freedom. In 1860 the husband of Elizabeth Packard had her committed to an insane asylum because she differed with him on ideas of religion and she was not subservient to him. At the time the husband had total control of a wife's person. This is the story of Elizabeth's fight for freedom while at the mercy of her husband, the deviant supervisor of the asylum, and a society that deemed woman could have no self-identity. While in the institution, Elizabeth found many women similar to herself, confined because they had thoughts and ideas that didn't conform to their husband's, and she was first hand witness to the punishment and atrocities that women endured when confined. She was determined to fight for her freedom and the freedom of others and to change the laws that subjected women to this treatment.
Extremely well-researched, this is a compelling journey of this determined woman. Moore uses many quotes from Elizabeth and others along with trial testimony and other proceedings to provide a comprehensive view of Elizabeth Packard's life. In the time period when the United States was engaged in a great Civil War, Elizabeth was engaged in her own war for freedom.
A very compelling read for anyone interested in women's history and the evolution of women's rights, especially as it pertains to institutionalization.

Didn't capture my attention and engagement. Interested in trying it again though and hopefully it will take.

An absolutely fantastic look at how history continues to silence women. Kate Moore has such a way with words that I could not put this down.

Well researched and methodically recounted, this is an incredible story of a woman and her fight for justice. Kate Moore includes as much detail and information as she could gather to accurately tell the story of Elizabeth Packard. It is a chilling and upsetting tale - one which makes me glad that I'm a woman living today and not at that time. The power that husbands had over their wives was truly incredible. Although the narrative lagged for me toward the latter half when the case is in the courts, I did appreciate the thoroughness of the telling of this story.

This is a long and detailed book - not an easy read. It's frightening to see how easily facts could be manipulated to commit this woman to an insane asylum. The author obviously did a lot of research.

I was disappointed, though, that the author had to inject her political views and slams against political figures she does not like. I lost respect for her for doing that. It doesn't matter whether I agree or disagree with her - - it wasn't the place for that dialogue in this book in my opinion.

Reading this book is frightening, fury-inducing, and awe-inspiring. Frightening to see how easy it would be for women like me to have been committed to an asylum in the past.

Oh how this book infuriated me, but in a good way! I was really excited to read this book from Kate Moore after reading The Radium Girls and this book sure did not disappoint. I was distraught as I read the challenges that Elizabeth faces and got angrier at the turn of each page. Kate Moore is a wonderful storyteller and provides so much factual information, that I truly enjoy reading her books!

I've enjoyed reading this book, though it did seem a bit difficult to get immersed in. It is full of details, and explanations, not a quick read. However, the author's style is both authoritative and thorough, and very believable.

Kate Moore has written another book about a terrible injustice and done so with respect, honesty, and great research. She's an author that I can't wait to see what she comes up with next, because she's getting a reputation of shedding light on moments in history that aren't well known.

"In many instances it is not insanity, but individuality that caused women to be committed"


*My Thoughts *

This book is such a difficult, heart breaking but essential read. A non fiction that you only wish was fiction.

Elizabeth Packard is an essential feminist figure, standing up for those who needed a voice and knowing to how to use her own.

This book shines a light on the dark history of psychiatry and how many patients were (mis)treated at the hands of doctors & nurses.

It also showcases the deep roots of misogyny in society but particularly in healthcare that can still be seen today.

This was really well written and Moore told Elizabeth's story so thoroughly.

An easy 5 stars, even though it was heart wrenching.

Thank you to Kate Moore, Sourcebooks & NetGalley for an eArc of this book in exchange for an honest review

This was a very powerful book that taught me a lot. There were parts that dragged for me, but overall I found this book very informative and intriguing. I knew about the lack of rights that married women had in the 19th century, but I was unaware of what implications that lack of rights could lead to. Elizabeth endured years without her own biological children, and tirelessly fought the entire time for not only her rights but the rights of other women who were unjustly put into asylums. The author also added an air of creepiness to the asylum portions, which I enjoyed. A long read, but definitely a recommended one.

I received an advance copy of The Woman They Could Not Silence by Kate Moore in both audio and digital form from Blackstone publishers and Sourcebooks through Netgalley

CW: Forced Institutionalization, Mistreatment of Patients, Abuse of the Mentally Ill, Sexism.

What It’s About: Elizabeth Packard is a wife and mother of six in 1860, when she begins to share her opinions on religion and her husband feeling threatened, declares she is insane and puts her in an institution for the insane. Her harrowing journey from abused woman to abused patient to advocate to freed woman and back a few times is documented in this book.

What I Love: Kate Moore is a talented scholar. She present’s Elizabeth Packard as a woman who was fighting for women’s rights prior to when most people think the book began. If anyone has ever read the Yellow Wallpaper or other fictional accounts of women being made to be viewed as unstable if they were not a perfect woman. This story is actually really quite inspiring and I think a lot of people will learn from this book. The way women in this country have been and are treated is appalling and this book really does bring light to a lot of that.

What I Didn’t Love: Honestly I thought it was a bit dense. It was hard to listen to, this book is loaded in details and quotes from primary documents. It is an in depth exploration of Packard’s life and at times it truly was just too much for me. I think this might be because I have the opposite problem of others with audio, I usually do better with fiction. Additionally, I thought that this book was very repetitive and that certain parts just seemed to keep coming up, to be fair, I actually think that Elizabeth just kept going through the same thing in the same pattern over and over but it got a bit repetitive and maybe stylistically could have been done better. That said, it is a history so this should be taken with a grain of salt.

Who Should Read This: People who love well researched and detailed histories. People who want to learn more about the abuses women faced pre-women’s right.

Quick Summary: A woman forcibly institutionalized becomes a leading advocate for the rights of women and the mentally ill.

Fascinating story of what many women have gone through all throughout history. The depth of research that Kate Moore gathers to tell her stories in astounding. A difficult, but engaging, read.