About the Book
An exciting novel based on the fearless reporter Nellie Bly, who would stop at nothing to expose injustices against women in 19th century New York, even at the risk of her own life and freedom.
In 1887 New York City, Nellie Bly has ambitions beyond writing for the ladies pages, but all the editors on Newspaper Row think women are too emotional, respectable and delicate to do the job. But then the New York World challenges her to an assignment she’d be mad to accept and mad to refuse: go undercover as a patient at Blackwell’s Island Insane Asylum for Women.
For months, rumors have been swirling about deplorable conditions at Blackwell’s, but no reporter can get in—that is, until Nellie feigns insanity, gets committed and attempts to survive ten days in the madhouse. Inside, she discovers horrors beyond comprehension. It’s an investigation that could make her career—if she can get out to tell it before two rival reporters scoop her story.
From USA Today bestselling author Maya Rodale comes a rollicking historical adventure series about the outrageous intrigues and bold flirtations of the most famous female reporter—and a groundbreaking rebel—of New York City’s Gilded Age.
My Review
What a time to read The Mad Girls of New York. I was utterly fascinated with this story from the beginning, especially knowing it was based on true events. I was googling Nellie Bly and reading all I could about her and what she did for women in journalism when I wasn’t reading this novel. To take a step back into 1887 and read about just how little women were able to do – or say – made me grind my teeth and I remembered all those who came before me and fought for the rights I have today. Especially as someone in the publishing world, the doors those like Nellie Bly and others opened for us of this generation makes me incredibly thankful that they never gave up, no matter how impossible men tried to make it for them. And still, women have to fight even for rights we’ve already fought and won for. This book was a stark reminder that we are still very much living in a man’s world. There was a line that stuck out to me especially. “A wife was her husband’s property and had no say over her body or her money or even her children.” This book gave me chills multiple times over and I highly recommend you give it a read.
5 stars
