The Woman They Could Not Silence Audiobook By Kate Moore cover art

The Woman They Could Not Silence

One Woman, Her Incredible Fight for Freedom, and the Men Who Tried to Make Her Disappear

Preview

Try for $0.00
Prime logo Prime members: New to Audible?
Get 2 free audiobooks during trial.
Pick 1 audiobook a month from our unmatched collection.
Listen all you want to thousands of included audiobooks, Originals, and podcasts.
Access exclusive sales and deals.
Premium Plus auto-renews for $14.95/mo after 30 days. Cancel anytime.

The Woman They Could Not Silence

By: Kate Moore
Narrated by: Kate Moore
Try for $0.00

$14.95/month after 30 days. Cancel anytime.

Buy for $18.28

Buy for $18.28

Confirm purchase
Pay using card ending in
By confirming your purchase, you agree to Audible's Conditions of Use and Amazon's Privacy Notice. Taxes where applicable.
Cancel

About this listen

From the New York Times, USA Today, and Wall Street Journal best-selling author of The Radium Girls comes another dark and dramatic but ultimately uplifting tale of a forgotten woman whose inspirational journey sparked lasting change for women’s rights and exposed injustices that still resonate today.

The year 1860: As the clash between the states rolls slowly to a boil, Elizabeth Packard, housewife and mother of six, is facing her own battle. The enemy sits across the table and sleeps in the next room. Her husband of 21 years is plotting against her because he feels increasingly threatened - by Elizabeth’s intellect, independence, and unwillingness to stifle her own thoughts. So Theophilus makes a plan to put his wife back in her place. One summer morning, he has her committed to an insane asylum.

The horrific conditions inside the Illinois State Hospital in Jacksonville, Illinois, are overseen by Dr. Andrew McFarland, a man who will prove to be even more dangerous to Elizabeth than her traitorous husband. But most disturbing is that Elizabeth is not the only sane woman confined to the institution. There are many rational women on her ward who tell the same story: They’ve been committed not because they need medical treatment, but to keep them in line - conveniently labeled “crazy” so their voices are ignored.

No one is willing to fight for their freedom, and, disenfranchised both by gender and the stigma of their supposed madness, they cannot possibly fight for themselves. But Elizabeth is about to discover that the merit of losing everything is that you then have nothing to lose....

Best-selling author Kate Moore brings her sparkling narrative voice to The Woman They Could Not Silence, a story of the forgotten woman who courageously fought for her own freedom - and in so doing freed millions more. Elizabeth’s refusal to be silenced and her ceaseless quest for justice not only challenged the medical science of the day and led to a giant leap forward in human rights, it also showcased the most salutary lesson: Sometimes, the greatest heroes we have are those inside ourselves.

©2021 Kate Moore (P)2021 Blackstone Publishing
Marriage Inspiring Thought-Provoking
activate_Holiday_promo_in_buybox_DT_T2

Critic reviews

LibraryReads Pick, 2021

What listeners say about The Woman They Could Not Silence

Average customer ratings
Overall
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    1,373
  • 4 Stars
    252
  • 3 Stars
    64
  • 2 Stars
    19
  • 1 Stars
    5
Performance
  • 5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    1,292
  • 4 Stars
    162
  • 3 Stars
    48
  • 2 Stars
    11
  • 1 Stars
    10
Story
  • 5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    1,265
  • 4 Stars
    200
  • 3 Stars
    39
  • 2 Stars
    8
  • 1 Stars
    4

Reviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.

Sort by:
Filter by:
  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Stunning story

It will make you furious over the injustice and cheer for all of Elizabeth’s victories.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

3 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

What a Woman!

The narrator of this book was spectacular as were the accomplishments of the protagonist, Elizabeth
Packard. Why have I never heard that name before listening to this book? She was wrongly sent to an asylum by her husband who took her freedom, her 7 children, her clothing, her money, her home—because he could. It was the law of our land in the 1860’s that wives had no rights and were completely subjected to the demands of their husbands. Elizabeth kept fighting for herself and for those wrongly admitted to asylums for the rest of her life. What a woman!

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

2 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

An absolute must read

Powerful. Compelling. Riveting. This book should be read in every high school or college across the country. The truth, like the phoenix, ultimately rises.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

2 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Unbelievable!!

Incredible story about a remarkable woman. Women and the mentally I’ll owe her a debt of gratitude. Very well written!

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

2 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Frightfully Relevant

This book is an incredible tale of courage and determination in the face of seemingly insurmountable horrors. One of the most horrifying parts is how relevant it is to today. This is not only an essential read for American history but to understand today's society.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Beautifully written and told

Love this narrator. Love this story. It was easy to binge this one over the weekend.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Woah….

Listening to this on the tails of Roe V. Wade being repealed. Woah! The author does a phenomenal job of telling this story. Wasn’t slow, but biographical. Read by the author. I would highly recommend listening if you like history and want an insight to women’s rights.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

such a great listen!

I love that the author read her book. the story is captivating and intriguing. I love historical novels, and this one tops my list for recent listens. I would definitely recommend!

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

A true hero that every women should know about!

This is beautifully written and such an amazing true story of a woman ahead if her time! You must read this book!

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

perseverance!

Inspiring story... it was lengthy, so you have to commit to this book! Kate Moore illuminates the perseverance of notable women.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!