Sub-title: One Woman, Her Incredible Fight for Freedom, and the Men Who Tried to Make Her Disappear
This is a true story about Elizabeth Packard, a wife and mother of six, sent to an insane asylum by her husband and confined for over a year because she was troublesome and disagreed with him. She became a crusader for the rights of the mentally ill and married women - who at the time in the 1860s surrendered all their rights to their husbands.
I'd read the author's other true story novel, The Radium Girls, several years ago and enjoyed her thorough research threaded with a strong narrative. In this book, she again uses direct quotes and source material from Elizabeth's secret journal and other publications. I must admit, I stayed up very late to finish this novel in one night!
It was horrific to read of the ordeal Elizabeth endured that failed to suppress her strong will and keen intellect, despite trickery and deceit by the head of the institution and her spouse. I think this one goes to the top of my favorites for 2023 reads.
Published: 2021 Read: April 2023 Genre: History, Women Studies
No comments:
Post a Comment
Post your comments here, would love to hear what you think