Ten Days in a Madhouse

by Nellie Bly

Ten Days in a Madhouse is a book by Nellie Bly that chronicles her undercover investigation into the conditions at the Women's Lunatic Asylum on Blackwell's Island in New York City. In the late 1800s, Bly, a young journalist, pretended to be insane in order to be committed to the asylum and investigate the reported abuse and mistreatment of the patients there. Throughout the book, Bly provides a firsthand account of the shocking conditions she witnessed and the brave efforts of the patients to survive and escape. The book exposes the corrupt and inhumane practices of the asylum and brings attention to the need for reform in the treatment of the mentally ill. Ten Days in a Madhouse is a must-listen for anyone interested in investigative journalism, social justice, or the history of mental health treatment. Its brave and groundbreaking reporting shed light on a dark period in history and helped bring about important changes in the way the mentally ill were treated.