What do you think?
Rate this book
44 Years in Darkness: A True Story of Madness, Tragedy, and Shattered Love
In the later part of the nineteenth century, Rhoda Derry spent over forty years in the Adams County Poor Farm, curled in a fetal position in a box bed. She had clawed her own eyes out. She had beat her front teeth in. Her legs had atrophied to the point where she could no longer stand on her own, or even sit in a wheelchair. She had been committed there by her own family when they could no longer care for her at home. She spent decades locked away from the world.
Her crime? Falling in love.
Rhoda suffered a mental breakdown after being “cursed” by the mother of the boy she was engaged to marry. Committed to the almshouse for violent insanity, she was eventually rescued by Dr. George A. Zeller. She was transferred to the Peoria State Hospital in Bartonville, Illinois, where she spent the remainder of her days in peace and comfort. Rhoda died in 1906, but her spirit seems to live on …
The story of Rhoda Derry is one of the great tragedies of mental health care in Illinois, and one of the great success stories of the Peoria State Hospital. Sylvia Shults, author of Fractured Spirits: Hauntings at the Peoria State Hospital, returns to the hilltop to tell the story of Rhoda's life, and her afterlife. She examines the social pressures that led to Rhoda's breakdown and her eventual insanity. And she explores the stories that continue to be told about Rhoda, and her presence on the hilltop.
Her crime? Falling in love.
Rhoda suffered a mental breakdown after being “cursed” by the mother of the boy she was engaged to marry. Committed to the almshouse for violent insanity, she was eventually rescued by Dr. George A. Zeller. She was transferred to the Peoria State Hospital in Bartonville, Illinois, where she spent the remainder of her days in peace and comfort. Rhoda died in 1906, but her spirit seems to live on …
The story of Rhoda Derry is one of the great tragedies of mental health care in Illinois, and one of the great success stories of the Peoria State Hospital. Sylvia Shults, author of Fractured Spirits: Hauntings at the Peoria State Hospital, returns to the hilltop to tell the story of Rhoda's life, and her afterlife. She examines the social pressures that led to Rhoda's breakdown and her eventual insanity. And she explores the stories that continue to be told about Rhoda, and her presence on the hilltop.
- GenresNonfictionTrue Crime
210 pages, Paperback
Published October 10, 2016
About the author
Sylvia Shults
33 books31 followersSylvia Shults has worked as a librarian, Bookmobile driver, flower seller, dancer, and art model. Her hobbies include baking, making wines and cordials, and reading (it's an addiction). She firmly believes there is no such thing as too many projects. She lives in Illinois with her husband, a certifiably insane Husky, a Belgian Malinois with no impulse control, and a whole bunch of books.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews
February 15, 2017
This short story chronicles the life of Rhoda Derry. It tells of the Illinois area, and the families in the early 1800's, going up through Derrys death in 1906 at 72 years old. There are a lot of facts in this book, including facts pertinent to women, such as their employment and expected decorum in public.
For over 40 years of her life Rhoda Derry was confined - locked - in a Utica crib, a coffin size wooden box, with straw covering a cage-like floor, at the Adams County Poor Farm in Illinois. Having had a curse put on her by her boyfriends mother, who wanted to end their relationship, at age 18 Rhoda sank into depression and later a more severe mental illness, never seeing her boyfriend again. When Rhoda is 26 her mother dies and her father, no longer able to care for her and her often raving episodes, puts her in the almshouse. She never sees any of her family again.
Thanks to the forward thinking of Dr George Zeller, the Director of the Illinois Hospital of the Incurable, later known as The Peoria State Hospital, who took Rhoda from her captivity, she lived her last two years of life being well cared for, a favorite of the nursing staff, until she died in 1906 from tuberculosis. Rhoda was buried on the grounds of the Peoria State Hospital.
The story of Rhoda, per se, was very good and it was obvious that a lot of research had been done. However there was probably more back story than was really needed. Unneeded was a full chapter on the authors own mother, used as a comparison on the difference of mental illness between 1860 and the 1960's. There seemed to be random chapters scattered throughout the book, making for a somewhat unclear time line, but all in all, the story of Rhoda Derry was captivating.
For over 40 years of her life Rhoda Derry was confined - locked - in a Utica crib, a coffin size wooden box, with straw covering a cage-like floor, at the Adams County Poor Farm in Illinois. Having had a curse put on her by her boyfriends mother, who wanted to end their relationship, at age 18 Rhoda sank into depression and later a more severe mental illness, never seeing her boyfriend again. When Rhoda is 26 her mother dies and her father, no longer able to care for her and her often raving episodes, puts her in the almshouse. She never sees any of her family again.
Thanks to the forward thinking of Dr George Zeller, the Director of the Illinois Hospital of the Incurable, later known as The Peoria State Hospital, who took Rhoda from her captivity, she lived her last two years of life being well cared for, a favorite of the nursing staff, until she died in 1906 from tuberculosis. Rhoda was buried on the grounds of the Peoria State Hospital.
The story of Rhoda, per se, was very good and it was obvious that a lot of research had been done. However there was probably more back story than was really needed. Unneeded was a full chapter on the authors own mother, used as a comparison on the difference of mental illness between 1860 and the 1960's. There seemed to be random chapters scattered throughout the book, making for a somewhat unclear time line, but all in all, the story of Rhoda Derry was captivating.
June 6, 2021
This was a very sad story about a woman who was locked in a box crib in an insane asylum for 44 years! I would say half of the book was about her and the rest was history about asylum back in the late 1800's to early 1900's. It really is sad how mistreated these people were in places like this then. They really had no understanding of mental illness back then. We have come such a long way. Rated 3 stars because it had more history then I cared for, was hoping for more on Rhoda's story.
March 24, 2023
Interested in State hospitals, because I had great aunts and uncles that were in Phila Byberry Hospital. Eventually, they all got "better" and when released to the family they lived full and happy lives. I wanted to read about Dr. Zeller and how he saved Rhoda Derry.
Note: While reading "The Vanishing" by Wendy Webb, there was a reference to Rhoda Derry. I was curious about Rhoda.
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/1...
Note: While reading "The Vanishing" by Wendy Webb, there was a reference to Rhoda Derry. I was curious about Rhoda.
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/1...
October 6, 2025
I was looking forward to reading this book to learn more about Rhoda Derry’s tragic story. I think the author tried to write about Rhoda’s life but maybe couldn’t find a lot of records on her. There was quite a bit on the history of insane asylums in Illinois and some history about other people and a little about the author’s mom. I appreciate the research done and the information that was included but I found the book to be strangely written and a lot of it didn’t seem relevant.
January 12, 2024
The title of this book is deceiving. It implies you will be reading the case of Rhoda Derry. However, the majority of the book is related to the changes in the care of the mentally ill throughout the 19th century with snippets of Rhodas story thrown in.
It is an interesting mental health history, but I thought I would learn more about Rhondas condition and her life.
It is an interesting mental health history, but I thought I would learn more about Rhondas condition and her life.
May 26, 2026
I found some of this really interesting, particularly the history of mental health care in Illinois. However, so much of Rhoda's "history" was speculative: "What really happened? We don't know for sure." Much of this reminded me of the self-published books people put together of their own genealogy, interesting for those involved but not so much for the public at large.
November 10, 2019
Wow! A lot of haunting history of the start of isane asylums in the U.S., particularly the Bartonville Insane Asylum. Creepy and revealing. The story of Rhoda Derry is unimaginable, and tragic. A stunning look at asylums and their insane.
May 3, 2021
Sylvia Shults makes this book
I was honestly going to give 4 stars to this book but upon finishing the authors add-ons at the very end I decided to up my rating to 5 stars. I just felt that extra connection you sometimes as an inspired reader get.
I was honestly going to give 4 stars to this book but upon finishing the authors add-ons at the very end I decided to up my rating to 5 stars. I just felt that extra connection you sometimes as an inspired reader get.
October 10, 2024
In the end, I enjoyed this book. I usually read fiction so this was a different read for me. The last few chapters of the book made it totally worth it. It's very touching that Sylvia brought light to Rhoda's story without gawking at how her life ended up.
dnf
September 19, 2020DNF
January 30, 2023
after many hours interviewing the participants shults generates a real life fairy tale. and if you don't believe her, just ask for the videos of her countless interviews with the spirits.
April 16, 2023
good but…
Distracting number of editing errors. Some excessive historical detail where I found myself wanting to get back to Rhoda’s story… but overall enjoyed.
Distracting number of editing errors. Some excessive historical detail where I found myself wanting to get back to Rhoda’s story… but overall enjoyed.
May 17, 2024
Moving, thorough, and an important dive into the American mental health care system. This one will stay with me!
September 30, 2016
Review Rating: 5 stars!
Reviewed By Melissa Tanaka for Readers’ Favorite
Sylvia Shults' 44 Years in Darkness: A True Story of Madness, Tragedy, and Shattered Love tells the story of Rhoda Derry, one of the greatest tragedies of mental health care in Illinois. Rhoda was the youngest of the Derry family and was courted by Charles Phenix, the son of a prosperous farming family, for about two years. While Charles is set on marrying Rhoda, his mother interferes, forcing them to break up and placing a curse on Rhoda in the process. Although the curse itself was falsified, the effects it had on Rhoda were anything but.
The novel alternates between the story of Rhoda Derry — her life, how she was driven to madness, her ensuing mistreatment, and ultimately how the people at the Peoria State Hospital were able to help her — and other relevant information about the time period, particularly in regards to how women were being affected by ideas such as spiritualism and the Industrial Revolution, as well as the crusade for mental health rights. Although these pages are dense with history of the era and the state of asylums and almshouses, Shults makes it interesting by adding an element of humanity that helps readers relate.
As a lover of history and the uncanny, I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book and devoured it in one sitting. I had never heard of Rhoda Derry and now I don't think I will ever forget a story of such survival. The story of Rhoda Derry is equal parts heartbreaking and captivating, grabbing your attention from the first page and sending you hurtling through history to discover just how the life of an average woman was ultimately destroyed by a few words and history’s irresponsible ignorance of mental health.
Reviewed By Melissa Tanaka for Readers’ Favorite
Sylvia Shults' 44 Years in Darkness: A True Story of Madness, Tragedy, and Shattered Love tells the story of Rhoda Derry, one of the greatest tragedies of mental health care in Illinois. Rhoda was the youngest of the Derry family and was courted by Charles Phenix, the son of a prosperous farming family, for about two years. While Charles is set on marrying Rhoda, his mother interferes, forcing them to break up and placing a curse on Rhoda in the process. Although the curse itself was falsified, the effects it had on Rhoda were anything but.
The novel alternates between the story of Rhoda Derry — her life, how she was driven to madness, her ensuing mistreatment, and ultimately how the people at the Peoria State Hospital were able to help her — and other relevant information about the time period, particularly in regards to how women were being affected by ideas such as spiritualism and the Industrial Revolution, as well as the crusade for mental health rights. Although these pages are dense with history of the era and the state of asylums and almshouses, Shults makes it interesting by adding an element of humanity that helps readers relate.
As a lover of history and the uncanny, I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book and devoured it in one sitting. I had never heard of Rhoda Derry and now I don't think I will ever forget a story of such survival. The story of Rhoda Derry is equal parts heartbreaking and captivating, grabbing your attention from the first page and sending you hurtling through history to discover just how the life of an average woman was ultimately destroyed by a few words and history’s irresponsible ignorance of mental health.
September 4, 2016
I received an ARC in a Goodreads giveaway, in exchange for an honest review.
I have to say up front that I was skeptical when I learned that the author of this book is a paranormal investigator. I believe that dabbling in the paranormal is a dangerous and ill-advised pursuit, and I don't appreciate the way that old asylums have been turned into haunted houses and ghost-hunting playgrounds.
However, I wanted to read this book because of my vested interest in mental illness and how far we've come over the years in understanding and treating it. I appreciated that the author devoted very little of her writing to stories of Rhoda Derry speaking from the grave and tugging on people's pantlegs.
I was intrigued to learn that Rhoda was raised less than an hour away from the town where I live. I have passed through Lima many times on my way to Quincy. My heart breaks for this poor woman, and I wish Dr. George Zeller were alive today so I could thank him for treating Rhoda and other mentally-ill people with compassion and dignity.
In that vein, I found this book to be very eye-opening and informative. Some of the information was a bit repetitive, however.
Also, as much as I appreciated Ms. Shults' candid tribute to her mother's troubled life, it didn't seem to fit very well into this book. I think it really deserves its own book, rather than being sandwiched into the story of another woman with mental illness. Regardless of how the author tried to draw parallels between the lives of Rhoda and Dorothy, it just didn't work for me.
All in all, "44 Years in Darkness" appears to be well researched and thorough, and was an interesting read.
I have to say up front that I was skeptical when I learned that the author of this book is a paranormal investigator. I believe that dabbling in the paranormal is a dangerous and ill-advised pursuit, and I don't appreciate the way that old asylums have been turned into haunted houses and ghost-hunting playgrounds.
However, I wanted to read this book because of my vested interest in mental illness and how far we've come over the years in understanding and treating it. I appreciated that the author devoted very little of her writing to stories of Rhoda Derry speaking from the grave and tugging on people's pantlegs.
I was intrigued to learn that Rhoda was raised less than an hour away from the town where I live. I have passed through Lima many times on my way to Quincy. My heart breaks for this poor woman, and I wish Dr. George Zeller were alive today so I could thank him for treating Rhoda and other mentally-ill people with compassion and dignity.
In that vein, I found this book to be very eye-opening and informative. Some of the information was a bit repetitive, however.
Also, as much as I appreciated Ms. Shults' candid tribute to her mother's troubled life, it didn't seem to fit very well into this book. I think it really deserves its own book, rather than being sandwiched into the story of another woman with mental illness. Regardless of how the author tried to draw parallels between the lives of Rhoda and Dorothy, it just didn't work for me.
All in all, "44 Years in Darkness" appears to be well researched and thorough, and was an interesting read.
Want to Read
October 23, 2016wow. I started this book while up all night and finished it. It was wonderful. It was tragic.
The story of a woman in an asylum for over four decades is made more tragic when you realize she is there because she believed in a curse made by the mother of the man she loved. It is also the story of the doctor who believed in gentler forms of curing forms of mental illness. Interwoven is the genealogical history of the woman, and how she became so affected by another womans' words.
My copy was given me by Goodreads, but my opinions are my own. Buy it!! Borrow it!! But read it!!!
The story of a woman in an asylum for over four decades is made more tragic when you realize she is there because she believed in a curse made by the mother of the man she loved. It is also the story of the doctor who believed in gentler forms of curing forms of mental illness. Interwoven is the genealogical history of the woman, and how she became so affected by another womans' words.
My copy was given me by Goodreads, but my opinions are my own. Buy it!! Borrow it!! But read it!!!
November 23, 2016
I have heard the author speak on Rhoda before, and her passion was obvious. I was glad to see that still come plainly through in this book. Knowing the topic means a lot to the author and having it come through takes any good, interesting book and elevates it further. I also enjoyed getting more detail and background than I'd had before.
September 6, 2016
a good informed but sad look at mental health and women ifound this to be two story. one of rhoda and the other the writers mother good read thanks to goodreads for the free book
October 27, 2016
Sucks you right into the pit of darkness and despair....this lady went through some drama and soul searching.
February 24, 2018
This was a very interesting story with a great mixture of fact and creativity (she includes imagined scenes that bring the characters to life and give the story more depth). I like the way she also weaves the story into modern times toward the end of the book. After reading this book, it also gives me a greater appreciation for the hospital in Bartonville and what Dr Zeller did for his patients.
Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews