November 14, 1889: Nellie Bly was the world famous female journalist who defied convention and did what everyone said she couldn't. Meaning, write meaningful, insightful journalistic reports in a 'man's world'. She exposed corruption, poor working and living conditions, and horrible abuse of the mentally ill. All first hand.Pft to those naysayers. She certainly showed them, the first female investigative journalist. (Some consider her the pioneer, period.)
And she circumnavigated the world in 72 days. Every read Jules Verne's Around the World in 80 Days? Or seen one of the three takes on his famous work? Verne published his book in 1873...in 1889 Nellie Bly proved it possible in a shorter amount of time.The Victorian age was one of innovation, travel, social commentary, and expansion. And women had a very large role in all that. And as Ms. Bly proved, records could be broken and by a woman no less.
This is one of many reasons I enjoy writing in the Victorian era. The change. The world was changing at a rate that it never had before, and everyone was excited.
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