TEN DAYS A MADWOMAN by Deborah Noyes

The Daring Life and Turbulent times of the Original "Girl" Reporter: Nellie Bly

Biography, Narrative Nonfiction, Nellie Bly

136 pages with illustrations

From the publisher: 

"Young Nellie Bly had ambitious goals, especially for a woman at the end of the nineteenth century, when the few female journalists were relegated to writing columns about cleaning or fashion. But fresh off a train from Pittsburgh, Nellie knew she was destined for more and pulled a major journalistic stunt that skyrocketed her to fame: feigning insanity, being committed to the notorious asylum on Blackwell's Island, and writing a shocking expose of the clinic's horrific treatment of its patients.

Nellie Bly became a household name as the world followed her enthralling career in "stunt" journalism that raised awareness of political corruption, poverty, and abuses of human rights. Leading an uncommonly full life, Nellie circled the globe in a record seventy-two days and brought home a pet monkey before marrying an aged millionaire and running his company after his death.

With its sensational (and true!) plot, Ten Days a Madwoman dares its readers to live as boldly as its remarkable heroine."

My Comments

Nellie Bly's courage and determination make for a riveting and inspirational story that does not end with the famous story of how she managed to get herself checked into the insane asylum on Blackwell Island to cover the miserable conditions of women inmates.

The only criticism I have is that the layout is a bit confusing with parallel stories interjected on a blue background. Otherwise, highly recommended!