Ten Days in a Madhouse

Pioneer of Immersion Journalism

In 1887, Bly had herself admitted to The Women's Lunatic Asylum on Blackwell's Island. In Ten Days in a Madhouse she shares her experience of diagnosis and incarceration for what was deemed a "mental illness."

The book is a remarkable insight into the diagnosis and treatment of mental illness in New York in 1887 and at the time her work was published it caused considerably controversy. It’s a fascinating read for anyone interested in the history of psychology, journalism or for anyone looking for some interesting non-fiction.

Bly’s experiences are frightening and disturbing. While incarcerated she meets other apparently sane women who have been confined for reasons such as convalescence from physical illness, poverty and in one case for speaking German and no English. The patients are given nearly inedible food, occasional cold baths and insufficient clothing and heating. Those deemed “dangerous” endure torture from those charged with their care.

Suzie Althens does a fantastic job at distinguishing the variety of characters. Her voicing of Bly is soft spoken and during the stages of deception the voice becomes passive and lacks tone, which is ideal for capturing what it may have been like for Bly trying to convince people she is mentally disturbed. It's a great performance of what is a very interesting book.

This audiobook was provided by the author, narrator, or publisher at no cost in exchange for an unbiased review courtesy of AudiobookBlast dot com.

2 of 2 people found this review helpful

Excellent reporting by Nellie Bly

I was shocked & horrified by the mistreatment of the mental patients that were sent to the Blackwell's Island institution for the mentally insane. That being said listening to the story as written by Nellie Bly was an eye opener to the true cruelty that existed for such patients at that time. Nellie Bly herself was an amazing & courageous woman. I highly recommend this book!

Reads like a diary, "just the facts ma'ma"

Any additional comments?

I was interested in the contents of Ten Days in a Madhouse as I was a psychiatric nurse in the 'One Flew Over the Coco's Nest' days and wanted to know what the environment and happenings would have been in the early 1900's. The account was factually written - this happened, that happened, I saw this, I saw that... Basically all I learned was that people, some of which who should not have been there, were placed in places where they were bored, had little to do, were totally regimented and at times were used as unpaid labour (it was called occupational therapy in the '60's). I am not certain what I expected but what I got was a credible, dry and factual diary rooted in the actual time and place. No surprises for me but since there were so many changes and monies spent due to Bly's reporting it must have been an eye opener in her time. I was gifted this book for an honest review by audibleblastdotcom. Review by Evi the wife.

Interesting story

Very interesting but sad story by a reporter doing a story on the poor conditions in an insane asylum. The narrator was very good.

I received a free copy of this audio from Audiobook Blast for a review.

A riveting acccount of a important time in history

TEN DAYS IN A MADHOUSE

Author: Nellie Bly

Type of Book: Audiobook - Unabridged

Narrator: Suzie Althens

Length: 2 hours, 50 minutes

Genre: Non-Fiction, History, Mental Health History, Memoirs

Release Date: June 1, 2015

Publisher: Audio Books by Mike Vendetti

Rating: 5 out of 5 stars ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

* I received a free copy of this audiobook through AudioBookBlast dot com in exchange for an honest review.

In 1887 very little was known and even less was understood about the field of mental health. In fact, I'm not even sure if the term "mental health" was even in use in that historic time period.

This book is the true story of Nellie Bly. Nellie was an actress and one of the first female newspaper reporters. She was sent by the "New York World" newspaper to do an expose on how patients are treated in 'modern day' asylums.

Nellie uses her acting skills to have herself declared insane by four medical doctors. This feat should have been difficult, but it proves to be alarmingly easy.

Nellie convinces the doctors that not only is she insane, but that she is also homeless and destitute. Because of the combination of these attributes, Nellie finds herself admitted to The Blackwell's Island Lunatic Asylum. This is where Nellie wanted to go to complete her assignment.

What Nellie discovers and subsequently writes about in the newspaper gives the public it's first ever glimpse into what life inside an insane asylum is really like. Nellie exposes cruelty, bullying, inhumane conditions and the lack of any scientific testing measures.

As a direct result of Nellie's covert investigation, a Grand Jury was assembled and many reforms were instituted as a direct result of the spotlight her expose placed on the deplorable conditions inside "insane" asylums.

The narrator of TEN DAYS IN A MADHOUSE has a wonderful voice. She is able to convey not only emotions, but also the state of mind of the characters. Her voice is refined and comes across as perfect for a pioneering female journalist during the late 1880s.

If you have never read or listened to the story of Nellie Bly before, I suggest you purchase this audiobook right away.

The story is fascinating and this was a major turning point in how mental health was perceived and how patients were treated. Without Nellie Bly's investigative journalism many more people may have died and thousands more would have had to endure harsh treatment for many more years.

I rate this audiobook as 5 out of 5 stars. ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐


EXCERPT:

"As the doctor was about to leave the pavilion [at Bellevue Mental Hospital] Ms. Tilly Maird discovered that she was in an insane ward. She went to Dr. Field and asked him why she had been sent there. 'Have you just found out you are in an insane asylum' asked the doctor.
'Yes, my friend said they were sending me to a convalescent ward to be treated for nervous debility from which I am suffering since my illness. I want to get out of this place immediately.'
'Well, you won't get out in a hurry,' he said with a quick laugh.
'If you know anything at all' she responded, 'You should be able to tell that I am perfectly sane. Why don't you test me?'
'We know all we want to on that score,' said the doctor and he left the poor girl condemned to an insane asylum, probably for life, without giving her one feeble chance to prove her sanity. "

Great Listen

If you could sum up Ten Days in a Madhouse in three words, what would they be?

Paints a good picture.

What other book might you compare Ten Days in a Madhouse to and why?

One flew over the cuckoo's nest. Telling an indepth goings on inside an insane asylum.

What about Suzie Althens’s performance did you like?

Shows empathy when needed.

If you were to make a film of this book, what would the tag line be?

Madhouse Island

Any additional comments?

I thought this book is a great quick listen for a trip, plane ride, or an evening listen. It was in depth enough to really show the real going ons in this period of time.

Seeing is Believing

I am always interested in reading stories of women who were leaders in their fields and Nellie Bly was definitely one of them for journalism. I appreciated her honest approach as an undercover mentally ill patient, her desire to tell the truth in an unbiased manner, and even though it did not turn out as she had hoped, found optimism and change for those less fortunate. It was a great read.

Suzie Athens performs admirably the voice of Nellie, keeping the narration simple and engaging. With the many characters and the overall subject manner being as it was, Athens captured the perfect pacing for a historical recounting.

I would recommend this book to all.

This book was given to me in exchange for an honest review.

Luckily, You're Only There for Two Days

The author tells her story of how she conducted some investigative journalism by posing as an insane woman in order to intentionally get herself committed to a mental institution and then report back on conditions inside. She takes us through the set up and how she was able to get herself evaluated (which was hardly an evaluation) and deemed insane. Then she tells us about her first two days at the asylum in great detail. She introduces us to many others that were committed there and the deplorable conditions they all suffered. She skips forward then in order for us not to get bored since apparently the following eight days are repetitious of the first couple of days. I completely appreciate that the author did that for the reader.

All in all, the story is interesting, and exactly what I expected based on the summary I read. The narrator is good too. I felt as if Nellie Bly were telling her story in a recording. I liked that other speakers weren't voiced in a completely different manner, dialect, or accent; which is something I very much enjoy narrators doing in most books. In this book however, since it is Nellie's story, I like that the narrator stayed in character as Nellie and only slightly changed voices as anyone might do as an imitation of someone when telling another person what someone else said. I hope that makes sense.

I was provided this audiobook at not charge by the author, publisher and/or narrator in exchange for an unbiased review.

Short and sweet?

Not sure where to start here. Ten Days in a Madhouse is not BAD, it just: Meh+, and Meh+ is not AWSOME. I find this story a bit short, and long at the same time. How is that possible? Well, this book does it. Nellie Bly is not a good storyteller, but not the worst ever. I would give this book a 3 out of 5.

So should you get this book? Well, yeah if you have 2 hrs and 50 mins that you want to use on a bit boring story! The thing is that i would still get a Nellie Bly book. She has a voice, she just needs to fine tune it. She needs to find another story! I would be willing to listen to it again!

Well, Suzie Althens almost save this story. She is good, and the only reason i give her a 4 and not a 5of 5 is that her voice work is not perfect! Her accents, voices, and different people voice work is almost perfect! Suzie Althens made me a fan, and if she reads a Nellie Bly story again i will be there!

"I was provided this audiobook at no charge by the author, publisher and/or narrator in exchange for an unbiased review via AudiobookBlast dot com"

A Very Important Instance of Victorian Journalism

What did you love best about Ten Days in a Madhouse?

Suzie Althens did a wonderful job with the narration. It's a classic piece of journalism - one of the earliest instances of female journalism. What Nellie Bly did to write this piece was incredibly brave and even more important that many realize. She changed so many lives for the better. She didn't change the whole world and it didn't fix everything, but it did help make hopeless lives a little better.

What other book might you compare Ten Days in a Madhouse to and why?

Anytime you read a modern journalistic piece about a journalist that went into a dangerous place and risked their life and sanity to tear the lid off of something wrong in the world, we need to take a minute to thank Nellie Bly for what she did to start that sort of journalism.

Which scene was your favorite?

I really enjoyed her describing looking into the mirror, and trying to figure out how to make herself look insane.

Any additional comments?

I received this audiobook for free from Audiobookblast in exchange for an honest review.

0 of 1 people found this review helpful