This is a true story about a woman whose husband didn’t like her opinions and what she had to say so he had her committed. Elizabeth Packard was married twenty-one years to Theophilus a preacher in Illinois and they had six children together.  

In the 1860s a husband owned his wife and she had very little say in what was done to her. Because Elizabeth had different religious views from him, he was worried that she would corrupt his church and was embarrassing him. He had her committed at the Illinois State Hospital with the help of Dr. Andrew McFarland. For the years Elizabeth was there she met many other women who shared her story. The patients were treated badly and abused. When she got out, she set out to get the laws changed to protect the other women who was going through it and keep other women from going through it. 

Elizabeth spent the rest of her life fighting for change in the system and was very successful. Because of her many changes occurred in the rights for women. She should be better known because we all benefit even today by her work. 

This is an important part of history that everyone should be aware of. I recommend this book.