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Book Review of The Woman They Could Not Silence: One Woman, Her Incredible Fight for Freedom, and the Men Who Tried to Make Her Disappear

eadieburke avatar reviewed on + 1639 more book reviews


1860. This is a true story of the historical battle for women's mental health rights. Elizabeth Packard's husband of twenty-one years feels increasingly threatened by Elizabeth's intellect, independence, and unwillingness to stifle her own thoughts. He makes plans to put his wife back in her place by committing her to an insane asylum. There are many rational women on her ward who have been committed in order to keep them in line. Elizabeth's refusal to be silenced and her ceaseless quest for justice challenged the medical science of the day, and led to a giant leap forward in women's human rights. I enjoyed this book but thought it could be shorter as it repeated facts too many times. If you enjoy stories about forgotten women of history, then you will enjoy this book.