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 dont know, but this was hard for me to follow. I lost interest and moved on.
Loved this take on an old story!
A bit hard to follow. I am sure that someone really interested in that time period would appreciate it more. Holly Darwin
This book was something of a let-down. The writing was easy to read and I loved how the story kept switching back and forth in time. However, I feel that the book left you hanging. It did not do a good job concluding the “past” or the “present”. I actually thought I had a download error on my Kindle. The end was so abrupt and quite dissatisfying. The story was a good one, just not executed as well as I would have liked.
Good information about a very early “investigative female” Nellie Bly
Not the best book I’ve read about Nelly Bly, but quite good. It was interesting to see inside a turn off century insane asylum.
Another peek at the life of the strong, unpredictable Nellie Bly as a woman determined to change the world. This is a look, perhaps more personal, of the time she got herself committed to an insane asylum where afterward she wrote exposés about the abuses and inhumane conditions of the patients.
liked this book. heard about her as a kid but found this most interesting.
It was interesting reading about Nellie Bly, it made me go and look her up just to learn more.
It Gave us a small , very small peak into mental institutions at the time. th e people who were incarcerated and why. How horrible for most of the inmates.
Interesting woman
This was a fantastic read!
It is interesting to read about all the torture and abuse the immigrants had to endure . Her character was well elaborated and she deserves the credit to bring to light the predicament of those abandoned and poor immigrants. I recommend this book
THE GIRL PUZZLE, A STORY OF NELLIE BLY: Kate Braithwaite
A pioneering woman dares all to win a job as a newspaper reporter. The story reveals much about the character of Nellie Bly, and the times in which she did her brave investigative reporting. Nellie Bly not only set the example for woman journalists, but helped set the stage for developing journalism.
The book describes Nellie Bly (Elizabeth Cochrane or “Pink”) as a complex individual: ambitious, ahead of her time, guided by heart and emotion. She tramples barriers of gender and comportment; her great love of children leads her to find acceptable homes for orphans.
One of her typists and secretaries tells the story of Bly’s bold insertion of herself into an insane asylum, as transcribed from Bly’s handwritten story. The country was shocked by Bly’s harrowing newspaper story of inhumane treatment of patients trapped in an institution. She inserted herself into the institution by pretending amnesia, trusting that at some point the newspaper editor would obtain her release. In short order, her treatment transforms her from a functioning individual to transitory madness. She recognizes the changes in others with whom she is confined.
The story is fictionalized, but realistic and compelling.
Really good story based on a true event.
Very difficult to follow. I just cant get into it.
It was interesting and I learned a few things.
Super interesting!
Still in the process of reading however I found that the beginning chapters did not hold my interest
I enjoyed reading a story about this woman who helped make changes in how mental illness was viewed and treated in theUnited States.