Madwoman set in a New York Asylum

I had heard of Nellie Bly before but not to this level. I first came across her as I read once that she loved the novel Around the world in80 days by Jules Verne and she wanted to try and do that same journey for real and beat Phileas Fogg record. Well, she did, bu one week. She has been my hero ever since but I have not really read much more about her apart from that bookish fact.

Well, didn’t I get a surprise to find out that the was so much more than my BookTrail hero! Nellie Bly was infact the first female investigative journalist. She grew up in Pennsylvania in 1870s and had a father who was strong and encouraged her to read, follow politics and be educated. He gave her a great start in life as he encouraged her to research for him. Eventually, she became a journalist and wanted to enter what was, and often still is, a man’s world. She witnessed her mum being abused by her second husband and so that makes her all the more determined to stand up for herself and stand out.

She writes a piece on working women and the conditions and treatment they face and well, the masculine world of journalism wakes up but becomes wary of her. I loved the way this strengthened her and pushed her even further. She starts writing more hard hitting pieces about things that really matter and rankles a few feathers along the way. Go on Nelly I was shouting at this point. We need people like this as role models in schools and everywhere.

I was fascinated and appalled by the things and conditions in society she wrote about. Well, people and poor children had no chance did they? She wrote harsh but true articles and then moves to New York where she feels she can really start writing about the hard stuff. She then has the idea of getting an inside scoop on the controversial asylum of its day on Blackwell’s island – now know as Roosevelt island. That’s when I really started to edge closer to the edge of my seat. Ever since the novel opened I had been restless and edging my way forward but now….