This book was infuriating, but very interesting. If you’re looking to rage-out at the patriarchy, The Woman They Could Not Silence will certainly do the trick. But also, because Elizabeth Packard was a badass who changed things for thousands of people in her lifetime and many more into the future, you get a happyish ending as well to lift you back from your cleansing rage.
Elizabeth Packard was committed to an asylum in the 1860s by her husband; because he said she was insane, she was insane. This was legal at the time. Her mistake? Thinking for herself and questioning him, particularly on the subject of religion (he was a pastor). What follows is Elizabeth’s journey to come to terms with her years-long imprisonment, to help her fellow “patients” (some of whom are genuinely mentally ill, but many of whom are not), and upon finally winning her release, spending the rest of her life campaigning for mental health reform, and women’s rights. And winning!
This was a bit slow to engage my emotions at first, but as soon as things started going wrong at the asylum, I was hooked. The horrors she saw enacted on the mentally ill patients, the punishments dealt to those women they just wanted to keep in line, the gaslighting and manipulation of the doctor Elizabeth had placed her trust in, and the disregard of her humanity will all make your blood boil. But that slow start is the reason it’s not getting five stars.
I did the audiobook and it’s narrated by the author. She does a great job, and will read to you in a British accent, so I recommend that option if you like audiobooks.