Ten Days in a Mad-House

By: Nellie Bly

Narrated by: Laural Merlington

Length: 3 hrs and 27 mins

Publisher's summary

In 1887, Nellie Bly had herself committed to the notorious Blackwell's Island insane asylum in New York City with the goal of discovering what life was like for its patients. While there, she experienced firsthand the shocking abuse and neglect of its inmates, from inedible food to horrifyingly unsanitary conditions. Ten Days in a Mad-House is Bly's expose of the asylum.

Written for Joseph Pulitzer's New York World, Bly's account chronicles her 10 days at Blackwell's Island and, upon its publication, drew public attention to the abuse of the institutionalized and led to a grand jury investigation of the facility. Ten Days in a Mad-House established Bly as a pioneering female journalist and remains a classic of investigative reporting. This edition also includes two of Bly's shorter articles: "Trying to Be a Servant" and "Nellie Bly as a White Slave".

Public Domain (P)2011 Tantor

Treatment never changes

Excellent, yet pitiful story. Written from so many years back, the tragedy of ourMental health system has NOT CHANGED!!! Deplorable conditions, no help to patients whatsoever. Totally unethical treatment of patients.Reader sounds way too upbeat for this topic.

And absolute must hear!!

An absolute must hear for all those interested in history, women who are amazing, and mental health.

Great Book

If you could sum up Ten Days in a Mad-House in three words, what would they be?

Courageous investigative reporting.

What did you like best about this story?

Being able to get the real story on how innocent people are illegally put away and mistreated by the very people who have taken an oath to care for mankind.

Which character – as performed by Laural Merlington – was your favorite?

Nelly Brown of course!!

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

Yes, the torture of sick and not so sick human beings incarcerated by the health system and getting away with all of it.

Any additional comments?

Thank you for opening the eyes of the public with your Incredible and extremely brave trip to the Mad House.

Could Have Been A Lot Longer

I would have enjoyed listening to more about what happened. But what I did hear was very interesting.
The part that was added on at the end would have also have been interesting to have heard more.

Historic Lovers Read

This is a wonderful read. The historic content, the narrative, and the story line are all excellent. Miss ably had courage, strength, and determination had to investigate situations. She strove to report facts and make a positive impact on the world.

Love it

I love this story. This is highly recommended. Enjoyed the story after as well. The narrator did a great job too.

Investigative moxie

Excellent narration! Bly's 1887 undercover stint and subsequent reporting on conditions at a New York insane asylum created a sensation, and spurred a large-scale investigation of the facility.

Also includes 2 shorter pieces in which she investigates employment agencies for young women, and works at a paper box factory.

Nellie Bly Invents Investigative Journalism

The bright, funny and determined personality of Nellie Bly, who worked in these and other pieces to develop what became first person investigative journalism, comes through in every page. Merlington's narration is perfect in tone and effective in expressing Bly's humor and disposition. This is the journalist as heroic figure, producing reform in corrupt institutions in a corrupt era. Though not quite dead, it would be worthwhile to see this concept, and the realized importance of high quality journalism, more fully revived in out era.

loved the book and this

i actually work with people who are mentally challenged and I love this book and to be able to see how they treated them back then is not suprising. People were very cruel I will listen to this again.

A Piece of History Everyone Should Know

Nellie Bly was a true journalist and reporter, going to places where many people would shirk any such doing. The depths of inhumation of the United States healthcare system has been evident from the beginning, and looking at today's situation vs. history, not much has changed. Ms. Bly called attention to the abuse, depravity, and lack of humanity - not just for the truly insane, but for womenkind and immigrants in general - and changed as much as one woman could, under the circumstances. It is hard to believe that humans can be so cruel to each other until reading or hearing about it, and this report is one such example.