Historical
Women of Letters
Around the World in 72 Days
Born Elizabeth Jane Cochran (1864-1922), this pioneer of investigative journalism is better known by her nom de plume,"Nellie Bly".
She became famous for her exposé of the New York City Lunatic Asylum on Blackwell's Island. On November 14, 1889, Cochrane began a solo trip around the world in emulation of the fictional character Phileas Fogg from the 1873 Jules Verne novel "Around the World in Eighty Days" - completing her trip on January 25, 1890 in the record-breaking time of 72 days, six hours, 11 minutes, & 14 seconds.
Join Nellie Bly in the US Embassy in Paris in February of 1919. The Great War has ended and Nellie recounts her adventures as a reporter, in the US, Mexico and as a war correspondent, as she awaits permission to return to the US.
