The Woman They Could Not Silence

I've read quite a few nonfiction books about women in history and their lack of rights to literally anything, but every time I'm still absolutely baffled how much women were so completely ruled by men. By law, women were nothing and had nothing, not even the right or custody of their own children.

This is the story of Elizabeth Packard who was branded insane and put into an asylum solely on the word of her husband, who she had been married to for over 20 years and had children with, because she had the audacity to think for herself (the horror!) and have a difference of opinion about her religious beliefs. I kid you not.

The rest of the book follows her fight to get out of the asylum, make people aware of the abuse women had to endure, eventually change the law and ultimately get back to her children. She was simply amazing and I loved learning her story and what she achieved.

I actually can't believe that piece of sh*t husband had the balls to stick around after everything he put her through and she let him!! But I suppose it was a different time and it would have been another battle to get a divorce.

My only issue with the book is that it's too long, if I hadn't have been listening on audio I would have struggled with the length.