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Primary sourceBook1887

Ten Days in a Mad-House

Nellie Bly · 1887

Nellie Bly's book-length account of feigning insanity to expose brutal conditions at the Blackwell's Island asylum.

Bly's own account of her undercover investigation, the work that made her famous as a reporter.

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Front cover of the book 'Ten Days in a Mad-House' by Nellie Bly. Decorative border with vines and a price label reading 'Price 25 Cents' at top. Title in large capitals in a framed panel, with 'by Nellie Bly' signature in script at bottom, above a wreath-like ornament with flowers.
Nellie Bly, Ten Days in a Mad-House, 1887. Published by Norman L. Munro, New York.

About this source

What it is

This is a book by journalist Nellie Bly, published in 1887 by Norman L. Munro in New York. It grew out of articles she wrote for the New York World after going undercover to investigate the Women's Lunatic Asylum on Blackwell's Island.

Why it matters

Bly feigned insanity, was committed, and spent ten days documenting abuse, filthy conditions and neglect inside the asylum. Her reporting led to a grand jury investigation and more funding for the institution, and it became a founding example of undercover investigative journalism.

Look closer

  • Why might a reporter choose to experience events firsthand rather than just interview people?
  • What does the cover's price and decoration tell you about how the book was marketed?
  • What risks did Bly take in pretending to be mentally ill?

This book is part of the curated material that grounds the AI version of Nellie Bly on Humy.ai — when students ask about related events, the AI can quote it and cite it.

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