Ten Days in a Mad-House

By: Nellie Bly

Narrated by: Laural Merlington

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.

Our active best in the book moment and the pot and the weight with it

I like the whole story in the whole part of the book and the way it was set up

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.