Ten Days in a Mad-House: The Original 1887 Edition

by Nellie Bly

Nellie Bly’s Ten Days in a Mad-House is a riveting firsthand account of her undercover experience in 1887, exposing the grim realities of life in a New York City mental institution. This original edition captures the courage and tenacity of a pioneering journalist whose work sparked significant reforms in mental health care.

What’s

A Shocking Undercover Bly feigns insanity to gain entry to Blackwell’s Island asylum, documenting the abuse and neglect faced by patients. An Unflinching Exposé: Her vivid descriptions reveal inhumane treatment, unsanitary conditions, and the misuse of power within the institution. A Catalyst for Bly’s reporting led to increased public awareness and reforms in mental health care, cementing her legacy as a trailblazer in investigative journalism.


Why Read Ten Days in a Mad-House?

A Landmark in This work established Bly as one of the first investigative journalists, paving the way for future exposés. A Gripping Written with clarity and compassion, Bly’s account is as compelling as it is shocking. Historical Gain insight into the 19th-century mental health system and the societal attitudes of the time.



A Must-Read for History and Journalism Enthusiasts
Ten Days in a Mad-House is an extraordinary blend of bravery, compassion, and journalistic skill. Bly’s work remains a powerful testament to the impact of fearless reporting and the fight for justice.

Genres: Nonfiction

76 pages, Kindle Edition

Published September 25, 2024

About the author

Nellie Bly (1864-1922) was the pen name of pioneer female journalist Elizabeth Jane Cochran. She remains notable for two feats: a record-breaking trip around the world, in emulation of Jules Verne's character Phileas Fogg (Bly completed the trip in seventy-two days) and an exposé, in which she faked insanity to study a mental institution from within. In addition to her writing, she was also an industrialist and charity worker. Bly died of pneumonia at St. Mark's Hospital in New York City in 1922 aged 57.

Librarian Note: There is more than one author in the GoodReads database with this name. See this thread for more information.

Reviews

[Lily_the_Book_Dragon · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’m normally more of a fiction reader, but I picked up this book. It was such a powerful, heart-wrenching account of an undercover journalist who had herself committed to an insane asylum. She documented the harrowing treatment of the women housed as “charity” cases within the institution. The author was very matter of fact in her account of those ten days. She was respectful, compassionate, and empathetic while writing about the patients she encountered during her stay. She actively seemed to work to being reform to the institution with her findings. This is one of those books that will truly stay with me over the years. It was incredibly heartbreaking to see how mental health patients were treated in the past. I highly recommend you read this book if you enjoy nonfiction, books about women’s rights, and/or the stigma of mental health issues.

[Lis Catalina · Rating 5 out of 5]

5 estrellas porque el trabajo de Nellie lo merece, su coraje y valentía logró muchos avances para el trato y derechos de las pacientes.
No es ninguna novedad el saber que los tratos a las personas con alguna condición mental eran precarios, pero leerlos de primera fuente por alguien que pasó tiempo sumergida en aquella experiencia te da una visión cercana y profunda. Es admirable la labor de Nellie, espero que más mujeres sepan acerca de ella, de su fervor por querer que las cosas mejoren, de sus ganas por defender a las que no tienen voz.

[Ana, la psicóloga lectora · Rating 4 out of 5]

¡Admiración total a Nellie Bly!

Nueva York, 1861. Nellie es una reportera que se hace pasar por paciente del manicomio de Blackwelk’s Island durante 10 días. Al salir se presenta ante el Gran Jurado para denunciar el maltrato y descuido en el que se encuentran las internas logrando mejorar las condiciones y aumentar considerablemente los fondos para la institución.

Este texto es el reporte que escribe Nellie con sus vivencias.
* La locura como espectáculo. Algunas pacientes son asediadas por reporteros o curiosos.
* La violencia psicológica y física de las enfermeras. Las enfermeras ejercen castigos físicos como golpes, ahorcamientos y encierros; y psicológicos como gritos, burlas, sobrenombres y groserías.
* Las condiciones inhumanas. La comida es terrible, las pacientes pasan frío, hay una falta de higiene general y no hay actividades ocupacionales.
* La incompetencia e indiferencia médica. Los médicos no escuchas a las pacientes, no las evalúan adecuadamente y sus enfermedades son i atendidas.
* En el mismo lugar se encuentran mujeres con esquizofrenia, aquellas encerradas por el esposo por ser infieles, las que enfrentan agotamiento por el trabajo en fábricas, las que tiene discapacidad intelectual o las que por demostrar su enojo ante un acto injusto en el trabajo fueron confinadas por la autoridades.

[Nicole Anderson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ten Days in a Madhouse
By Nellie Bly
5 Stars

I’m giving this book 5 Stars because of the bravery and courage it took Miss Nellie Bly to see this story through. She made her way into an insane asylum to expose the horrors that took place there. She did this in a time when women were thought so little of that any man could simply commit her. Even as a reporter she was 2nd class at best.

Her exposé screamed the truth about these asylums and made the world aware. She even faced the Grand Jury to recount the horrors and abuse that took place there… she wasn’t afraid to name the perpetrators by name and she spoke up for those innocent and abused souls that remained trapped in the asylum after she was freed. I really hope this book continues to get attention in modern day times… if not for the facts in history but for the reminder to speak up for those less fortunate in all walks of life.

I wish I could give this more than 5 stars - this was such a worthy piece to have read and it gives me a whole new perspective on investigative journalism.

[Susan Schubert · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great true horror

You read about the inhumane ways they treated both crazy and not crazy people who were committed to this asylum and you start asking questions similar to Nazi Germany, how could the people let this happen? Did the people involved get what they had coming to them? How did it come to this?
I also feel like I had a slightly elevated experience reading this story as apposed to other readers since I used to work in assisted living with people who had Alzheimer’s, and there are many parallels to be had, but I can see every violation of resident rights happening in that book. If it existed today, that place would be shut down, lawsuits would be rampant, and criminal files would be charged. I’m so glad for Ombudsman, Resident Rights, and government check-ins.
I did have to take breaks while reading this though, it was super rough. She did a great job creating outrage with her writing.

[Julianne · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was such a terrifying read of actual events!! Bless Nellie Bly for her astonishing courage in going undercover at the corrupt and abusive Blackwell Asylum. It was rich at the end when the asylum doctor blamed “lack of funding” as reason for their abuse of their patients. When their pure evil intent and mismanagement was the cause. I highly recommend as it is written with respect for the patients and ends with hopes for reform!

[Betsy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting short book

I found this book very interesting, for the topic and for year it was written. Nellie Bly was a very smart and courageous young woman. She purposefully had herself committed to an insane asylum, not knowing what would happen once she got there. She exposed the cruelty and abuse the patients had to endure. I would like to know more about her life. She did good for this world.

[Kelsea Lynn · Rating 5 out of 5]

I needed a quick read so I picked this. (It’s less than 100 pages.) It was absolutely amazing. I was worried due to the year it was written that the language and grammar would be a stumbling block but it was barely noticeable. Absolutely wild to hear the way things were at asylums in the 1800’s.

[Libby · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was prompted to read this book as an author of a fiction novel incorporated Nelly Bly into her story in which a female character (who was not “insane” was sent to the Asylum.
This book was very much to the point.
Nelly paints a vivid picture of the horrors of Blackwell’s Island.

[Damien A. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good book

What an amazing look into the confines of the madhouse. Her undercover work shed light on the horrors awaiting those comdemed of madness

[Katy Brown · Rating 5 out of 5]

intriguing!

So good! Was very informative and also depressing to learn about what those women had to go through and the injustice they felt.