The Private War of Mrs. Packard: The Dramatic Story of a Nineteenth-Century Feminist

by Barbara Sapinsley

International in scope, this series of non-fiction trade paperbacks offers books that explore the lives, customs and thoughts of peoples and cultures around the world. This is the story of 19th-century feminist, Mrs Packard.

Genres: History, Nonfiction, Biography

240 pages, Paperback

First published July 1, 1991

Reviews

[Lisa M.]

Historically, women have been oppressed (and continue to be oppressed in many ways across the world.) I understand this, logically. But reading "The Private War of Mrs. Packard" was still difficult for me to comprehend. It is so unbelievable to me that Mr. Packard was able to have Mrs. Packard institutionalized so easily.

After 3 years of institutionalization, Mrs. Packard was finally allowed a trial to determine her sanity. During the trial, many of her accusers claimed she was insane due to the fact that she disagreed with her husband and was not acting as insubordinate to him. That's it. It wasn't because she disagreed with him on some basic scientific or logical principal, showing she was disconnected with reality - she was insane merely because she told her husband she disagreed with him.

Mrs. Packard was certainly eccentric for her time; she is institutionalized because her religious beliefs are relatively liberal and threatened her husband's identity and career as a preacher. This book was needed. Mrs. Packard's story was lost to time or twisted and demonized by historians.

Here, we have an accurate account of what she suffered. If you enjoy learning about history, women's rights, or mental health rights, this is definitely for you. But, it is also a story with great drama. Both Mr. and Mrs. Packard are very distinct, unique characters. It is difficult to fully comprehend how stubborn and hard-headed Mrs. Packard was. She truly never gave up, and became a nuisance to many men in her life because of it. She had tons of audacity - she insinuates she knows the First Lady and gains entrance to the White House. When she enters, the First Lady, whose husband asks her to refrain from politics, is worn down and eventually signs one of Mrs. Packard's many petitions. I admired and believed in Mrs. Packard's efforts, but I could see how she could become very obnoxious! She never quit.

Overall, this book was very good. Barbara Sapinsley is a historian, and it is clear she probably does not live with/has not lived with mental illness (either herself or a close family member.) Her brief forays into describing the validity of Mrs. Packard's sanity were very amateur. It was clear she didn't know what she was writing about, and honestly, it wasn't necessary. These forays were very brief and sporadic, so they weren't expected or needed. I also believe the text stood for itself. Mrs. Packard certainly broke social and religious norms, but I do not believe she was in any way insane. Did she suffer and grow depressed in the institution? Absolutely. But wouldn't anyone who was detained for years, and knew her husband could detain her again at any time he chose? Absolutely. If Sapinsley writes another book like this, I would suggest she avoid topics she knows little about. Otherwise, she was a very talented writer and I would be open to reading something by her again.

[Bruce]

Until relatively recently women, when they married, became chattel. Everything that she had became the husband's and he could do with her what he wanted. In this case an intelligent woman who disagreed with her husband's religious beliefs was committed to an insane asylum because she dared to express those beliefs as well as the belief that women should be considered the equal of men. Elizabeth Packard spent three years in an asylum, after which she became a campaigner for reform in the way people are committed to and treated in asylums. Additionally, she advocated fair treatment of married women by giving them a right to their own bodies, beliefs and property. Appendix One is her paper on Calvinism vs. Christianity which may have been instrumental in the trial that declared her sane.

[Mel]

4/5 stars for importance. I found the story easy to read and enjoyable, but part of my engagement came from my familiarity and fascination with the Christian theological battles the Packards fought. Elizabeth was one spunky, tireless, impressive woman.

[Naomi]

This book was simply unbelievable. I had learned of this story from an acquaintance, but it was even more unbelievable than what he described. I could barely put it down because it was written in an engrossing manner. This book was clearly well researched, as well.

[Linda]

Crusader for the rights of wives to be protected from their husbands committing them to mental institutions during the civil war era.

[Robin]

Equal parts women's history, theology, and marriage rights. This goes right next to your Alice Paul and Elizabeth Cady Stanton.

[Dan]

Interesting intersection of marital discord, Calvinism and religious intolerance, declarations of and treatment for insanity, 19th century feminism and political activism -- all in one woman's life.