Lit review
This historical non-fiction book follows the wild but true story of Elizabeth Packard, mother of 6, as she’s deemed “hysterical” for her intelligence, independence, and unwillingness to submit to her husband’s demands. Threatened by her unyielding nature, her husband has her committed to an asylum in Illinois, where she spends years fighting for her freedom against a system who would rather turn their backs and pretend she didn’t exist. I had the absolute pleasure of meeting author Kate Moore at a book signing for her book The Radium Girls, one of my favorite books of all time and one which will surely be featured at some point. She was a true joy to speak with, and it’s no surprise: her writing shows astounding attention to historical accuracy and fact-checking while managing to be both fascinating and full of dramatic tension.