The sensational THE GIRL PUZZLE** No#1 in America No#1 in the UK No#1 in Canada No#1 in Australia No#1 in India No#1 in Spain ** Her published story is well known. But did she tell the whole truth about her ten days in the madhouse?Down to her last dime and offered the chance of a job of a lifetime at The New York World, twenty-three-year old Elizabeth Cochrane agrees to get herself … offered the chance of a job of a lifetime at The New York World, twenty-three-year old Elizabeth Cochrane agrees to get herself admitted to Blackwell’s Island Lunatic Asylum and report on conditions from the inside. But what happened to her poor friend, Tilly Mayard? Was there more to her high praise of Dr Frank Ingram than everyone knew?
Thirty years later, Elizabeth, known as Nellie Bly, is no longer a celebrated trailblazer and the toast of Newspaper Row. Instead, she lives in a suite in the Hotel McAlpin, writes a column for The New York Journal and runs an informal adoption agency for the city’s orphans.
Beatrice Alexander is her secretary, fascinated by Miss Bly and her causes and crusades. Asked to type up a manuscript revisiting her employer’s experiences in the asylum in 1887, Beatrice believes she’s been given the key to understanding one of the most innovative and daring figures of the age.
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I thought I knew a lot about Nellie Bly. I think that at one time I read a different book based on her life. So I was hesitant at first to read another one, but I’m so glad I took the leap. This account is so fully realized and fascinating that I came away understanding so much more about Elizabeth (her real name) than I’d ever expected. In addition to that, it’s simply a great read.
The author tells the story from the point of view of one of Nellie’s assistants later in her life. During that time, Nellie is writing her life story, so we get to relive her time in the asylum in great detail, as this was the seminal moment in terms of changing her public life. It made her famous, but the author manages to show us the personal side of Nellie in a way that revealed so much more. Like so many of us, Nellie was flawed, haunted by the past, and still searching for answers and purpose up until the very end.
Beatrice, the narrator, also comes alive in this book as another fully realized character, and with her, the reader also gets to experience a sweet love story. But nothing about this novel is simple. It’s fast-paced and reads almost like a thriller, yet will leave you thinking about it for a long time. Very highly recommended.
Based on actual events. A good read.
Nellie Bly was a strong and courageous heroine. I have always been fascinated by her story and the fact that she committed herself to an asylum to report on the poor conditions and to get the story and be a respected journalist in the New York Journalism scene. I am drawn to stories about asylums, especially in the historical setting, so I was thrilled to read this book. This is everything you want in a historical novel. The research by Author Kate Braithwaite is complex and impeccable. She brings Nellie Bly to life in this wonderfully paced story and it had me wanting to learn even more. I highly recommend this novel about a fascinating woman and her journey. It was Fantastic!
Thank you to Historical Fiction Virtual Book Tours and the Author for my copy.
#TheGirlPuzzle #KateBraithwaite #HFVBTBlogTours
Great read, an amazing woman.
Great slice of history.
This is a beautifully written story about the fascinating life of Nellie Bly – a remarkable woman who made her own stamp on history; famous for her 72-day trip around the world amongst a catalogue of other things. In this novel Braithwaite explores Nellie’s experience in an asylum through the eyes of her assistant, Beatrice Alexander. In 1887 Elizabeth Cochrane, who went by the pen name Nellie, was very keen to work as an investigative journalist which was an incredibly male dominated arena. She fought her way into employment with her willingness to go undercover for an exposé about the conditions of life in a lunatic asylum. The story is split between two timeframes – the asylum episode and the 1920s where Nellie has become devoted with her work in private adoption. Through Nellie’s memoirs, Beatrice starts to uncover the real Nellie and sees how her childhood and consequent difficult relationship with her mother have shaped her. As it stands, Nellie is a puzzle: ‘a woman who made a difference, but someone who needed to be needed’. She is ‘passionate yet inconsistent’.
The stories of Blackwell’s Island Insane Asylum are truly horrifying – it is ‘beautiful on the outside and rotten on the inside’. The nursers are disgraceful and deprive their patients of the most basic needs. Nellie sees that they need ‘a warm blanket, hot meal and a few kind words’ but instead the women are left in squalor, given ice cold baths and treated barbarically. So many of the women are trapped for the wrong reasons; because they are foreign and can’t communicate properly, or because of sickness and poverty. Then just when you think it can’t get any worse, Nellie describes a section within the main asylum called The Lodge which is the stuff of nightmares.
By revealing this episode in her past, Beatrice comes to a greater understanding of her employer; her passion for caring for children and also why she strives so hard not to be reliant upon men. This is a really fascinating novel full of glorious snippets of history and with a fascinating and charismatic woman at its core who had a ‘need for equality but also wanted to dress well and buy hats’ – and, indeed, why not?
A well-written fact-based novel, about the reminiscences of the young undercover reporter Nelly Bly, as told by the older Nelly, and her secretary, in a riveting realistic style. A great read!
Interesting story about the newswoman, Nellie Bly. She was inventive, brave, and determined.
Very good story. I couldn’t put it down.
LOVE!!! Surprisingly easy to read, unlike some of the biographical type novels.
Very interesting subject. But writing not stellar.
This novel is masterfully done in its handling of making historical fiction out of real life people and events. It is an intriguing glimpse into the life of Nellie Bly, “girl reporter”, a historical figure whose life deserves to be highlighted in this way. Along with the storyline, the writing style and level of craft of this author are a treat. I highly recommend this one and really look forward to Kate Braithwaite’s next one!
I found myself not wanting to put this book down. I was thinking if half of the women were as motivated and strong as Nellie Bly/Elizabeth Cochrane this world would be a much better place.
Couldn’t finish it, too much “realism”. My fault, not the author.
A very informative book
Information about Nellie Blye and her experiences as a newspaper reporter when women had to prove themselves as more than anyone else in order to live their dream and work undercover. Fascinating.
Fascinating read!
If you are interested in reading about Nellie Bly, then the story is interesting, but sad. It is Told by Bly, herself and assistant Beatrice.
Nellie Bly is a great character and a real person. I enjoyed this story of her expose’ of “insane asylums “ .
Interesting portrayal of 19th century institutional life. Nellie Bly (not her real name) was a maverick investigative reporter who spent time at Bellevue to see first hand how women psychiatric inmates were treated. What was missing for me was the inner workings of our main character. Yes, the author told us, but seldom showed us from the character’s point of view. I felt a disconnect between Nellie’s actions, words, and concerns and her seeming lack of emotion. Voice was missing for me.