Monday, March 27, 2023

Madwoman by Louisa Treger

                                                     


Ebook:  304 pages                                                                                                
Genre: Historical Fiction
Publisher: Bloomsbury
Source: My Kindle
First Sentences: The barge pulled away from shore, pitching and rolling. Some of the patients were whimpering or crying out, but the guards barked at them to shut up.
Review Quote: Treger provides a moving story, particularly powerful in its depiction of Bly's desperate efforts to retain her sanity in the midst of institutional madness. ― SUNDAY TIMES,
Main Characters: Nellie Bly
Setting: Pennsylvania and New York
My Opinion
Always interested in reading a fictional account based on a real life character I have really been looking forward to ‘Madwoman.’ What a remarkable story Louisa Treger has created around her heroine, Elizabeth Cochran born in 1864 in Pennsylvania, USA.  Showing tremendous determination as a young woman she manages to successfully get work in, at the time, the male dominated world of journalism. Adopting the pseudonym Nellie Bly she decided to progress her career by moving to New York. 


Once there though she discovers just how hard it is going to be to get herself taken seriously as a female investigative journalist. She comes up with the astonishing idea of getting herself committed to a lunatic asylum, so that she can then write an in-depth expose of the conditions.  It is a horrifying experience and the descriptions of the cruelty and humiliation that the residents endure makes very disturbing and harrowing reading.


What a brave thing this young woman was prepared to do, not just to prove herself as a journalist but to benefit society. The author has presented the story of Nellie Bly in such a manner that you cannot fail to be throughly moved by this absorbing and emotional novel.  Once I finished reading this novel I looked into the historical background, as I knew very little about Nellie Bly. It is obvious that Louisa Treger did very through research and has produced a novel I can highly recommend with her excellent blend of fact and fiction.



Précis Courtesy of Goodreads:

Based on a true story, a spellbinding historical novel about the world's first female investigative journalist, Nellie Bly.

In 1887, young Nellie Bly sets out for New York and a career in journalism, determined to make her way as a serious reporter, whatever that may take.

But life in the city is tougher than she imagined. Down to her last dime and desperate to prove her worth, she comes up with a dangerous plan: to fake insanity and have herself committed to the asylum on Blackwell's Island. There, she will work undercover to expose the asylum's wretched conditions.

But when the asylum door swings shut behind her, she finds herself in a place of horrors, governed by a cruelty she could never have imagined. Cold, isolated and starving, her days of terror reawaken the traumatic events of her childhood. She entered the asylum of her own free will - but will she ever get out?

An extraordinary portrait of a woman ahead of her time, 'Madwoman' is the story of a quest for the truth that changed the world.
Previous Review: The Dragon Lady

Author Profile:

Louisa Treger


Born in London, Louisa Treger began her career as a classical violinist. She studied at the Royal College of Music and the Guildhall School of Music, and worked as a freelance orchestral player and teacher.

Louisa subsequently turned to literature, gaining a First Class degree and a PhD in English at University College London, where she focused on early twentieth century women’s writing.

Married with three children, she lives in London.



Photographs and Biographical Information courtesy of the following sites.


Author's Official Website   Goodreads Author Profile  Amazon Author Page

Twitter Profile

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