Ten Days in a Mad-House; or, Nellie Bly's Experience on Blackwell's Island. / Feigning Insanity in Order to Reveal Asylum Horrors. The Trying Ordeal of the New York World's Girl Correspondent.

Name: Ten Days in a Mad-House; or, Nellie Bly's Experience on Blackwell's Island. / Feigning Insanity in Order to Reveal Asylum Horrors. The Trying Ordeal of the New York World's Girl Correspondent.
Author: Nellie Bly

By Nellie Bly

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About This Book

The author undertakes an undercover investigation by feigning mental illness to secure admission to a metropolitan asylum and documents her experiences during ten days confined there. She describes the admission process, medical examinations, the daily routines and living conditions in the wards, interactions with attendants and doctors, and the treatment of patients, including neglect and cruelty as well as instances of kindness. The narrative combines first-hand observation with analysis of institutional practices and culminates in public exposure that spurred scrutiny and reforms.

About the Author

Nellie Bly

Nellie Bly, born Elizabeth Cochran, was a pioneering American journalist and adventurer known for her groundbreaking investigative reporting in the late 19th century. She gained fame for her daring undercover work, particularly in her book "Ten Days in a Mad-House," where she feigned insanity to expose the appalling conditions of a mental asylum. Bly's fearless spirit also led her to embark on a record-breaking journey around the world in just 72 days, which she chronicled in her writings. Her contributions to journalism and her advocacy for social reform have left a lasting impact on the field, making her a notable figure in American literary and journalistic history.