London-based journalist Rosemary J Brown is the author of Following Nellie Bly: Her Record-Breaking Race Around the World recently published in the UK and USA. An avid traveller, Rosemary is a Fellow of the Royal Geographical Society and a Churchill Fellow.
She works with voluntary organisations supporting asylum seekers and homeless people. She climbed Mount Kilimanjaro, plays with a ukulele band and has lived in Florida, Oregon, Washington, DC and Paris.
25 January 1890 – Around the World in 72 days, 134 years ago this week.
Nellie Bly arrived home after travelling 21,740 miles around the world in 72 days, 6 hours, and 11 minutes
On 25 January 1890, Nellie Bly stepped off of a steam train in New York City and into the headlines. She had circled the world faster than anyone ever had – 72 days. Bly had achieved ‘the most remarkable of all feats of circumnavigation ever performed by a human being,’ The New York World declared. She raced through a man’s world – alone and literally with just the clothes on her back – to beat Phileas Fogg’s fictional record in Around the World in Eighty Days.
Along with establishing record time, Bly’s race proved the world was connected. Ocean liners, the telegraph, trans-continental railroads in America and India, and the Suez Canal in Egypt, brought far-flung destinations within reach. Her voyage made the world a smaller place and brought humankind together. She became the ‘best-known and most widely talked of woman on earth,’ the papers said.
On 14 November 1889, intrepid journalist Nellie stepped on to a ship in New York Harbour and into history. Seventy-two days and 21,740 miles later, she had circled the world faster than anyone ever had. She had accomplished ‘the most remarkable of all feats of circumnavigation ever performed by a human being’, according to The New York World newspaper.Bly raced through a man’s world – alone and literally with just the clothes on her back – to beat the fictional record set by Phileas Fogg in Around the World in Eighty Days.
From her departure aboard the SS Augusta Victoria on that bright November morning 134 years ago, Nellie Bly would become the ‘best-known and most widely talked of woman on earth today,’ The World newspaper stated when she won the race on 25 January 1890.That this fearless heroine had faded into oblivion inspired me to revive her. Awed by her achievements and shocked by her present-day obscurity, I set off to follow in Bly’s footsteps 125 years later. Both of our journeys are captured in Following Nellie Bly: Her Record-Breaking Race Around the World, published by Pen and Sword Books.
A paperback version of Following Nellie Bly: Her Record-Breaking Race Around the World was recently released — just in time for holiday giving. You can order here.
In a wonderfully re-invented, rip-roaring version of Around the World in 80 Days, Nellie Bly joins Phileas Fogg on a global journey now touring the United Kingdom with Tilted Wig Productions. Adapted and directed by Juliet Forster of York Theatre Royal, the irresistible production unites circus skills, slapstick and movement — all performed by a super talented troupe of five. I’ve had the pleasure of seeing them live at the York Theatre Royal and at Beck Theatre in Hayes where I joined the cast for a Q&A. And in another tribute to our once-forgotten globetrotter, Shedlight Stories presented Around the World with Nellie Bly as part of London’s Vault Festival.
Photos: (above) Around the World in 80 Days with cast left to right: Wilson Benedito, Eddie Mann, Katriona Brown, Genevieve Sabherwal and Alex Phelps. (Below) show poster, Katriona Brown as Nellie Bly holding Following Nellie Bly, and the Q&A at Beck Theatre.
Katriona Brown plays Nellie Bly
Around the World with Nellie Bly with Shedlight Stories’ artistic director Nell Thomas, me, McGinty the monkey and actor Katie Overstall.
Join me on 13 February 2023 for an afternoon talk about Nellie Bly’s Record-Breaking Race Around the World at the Royal Geographical Society in London. We’ll circle the globe with this trailblazing journalist who defied convention by travelling alone, with just a Gladstone bag, to beat the fictional 80-day record of Jules Verne’s Phileas Fogg. In a triumphant return in 1890, Nellie Bly had completed the journey in 72 days achieving ‘the most remarkable of all feats of circumnavigation ever performed by a human being’ according to The New York World. 125 years later I followed in her footsteps to get this forgotten heroine ‘back on the map.’ RGS members are free; guests £5. Online and in person. Here’s the information. https://www.rgs.org/events/spring-2023/nellie-bly%E2%80%99s-record-breaking-race-around-the-world/. I would love to see you!
Nellie Bly fans united last autumn at the Royal Geographical Society for a Monday Night Lecture by BBC presenter Martine Croxall. Question time included Louisa Treger, author of Madwoman and Nicki Stiastny and me (holding a replica of Nellie’s travel bag). From left to right: me, Louisa Treger, Martine Croxall, Nicky Stiastny and RGS director Prof Joe Smith.
Nellie Bly is making the rounds this month. I have the honour of sharing her global journey with members of The Federation of International Women’s Associations (FIWAL) 20 September in London.
For the Books and Boots Festival, featuring the wonderful combination of country walks and literary talks, I’ll be on the road to Richmond, Yorkshire to present Following Nellie Bly on 23 September alongside Jacki Hill Murphy and The Life and Travels of Isabella Bird. On 24 September at Books and Boots, I’ll be in conversation with bestselling writer Christy Lefteri, author of The Beekeeper of Aleppo and Songbirds, along with world expert on bees and founder of The Buzz Project, Dr Ryad Alsous.
Back in London, the life and lessons of our intrepid journalist and traveller will take centre stage in the Royal Geographical Society’s Ondaatje Theatre when BBC news presenter Martine Croxall delivers ‘Investigating Nellie Bly: reflections on journalism and the power of curiosity’ for the Monday night lecture on 26 September. Last spring, Martine walked away with the BBC Celebrity Mastermind programme trophy when she aced the competition using Nellie as her specialist subject. I’m thrilled to be joining Martine on stage for questions following her lecture along with fellow Nellie Bly aficionados Louisa Treger, author of Madwoman and Nicki Stiastny, Martine’s friend and colleague who, like me, re-traced Nellie’s world trip.
Nellie Bly was born on 5 May 1864 which would make her 158-years-old in 2022. In the run-up to her birthday you can read the latest news about her here and listen to podcasts about her here. For her 151st birthday, Google created a Google Doodle that you can watch here.
Nellie Bly’s 151st birthday was celebrated with a Google doodle. Google animation by Katie Wu. Music by Karen O of the Yeah, Yeah, Yeahs.Nellie Bly ‘spoke up for those told to shut up’. Animation by Katie Wu for Google.
Please join artist Amanda Matthews, creator of The Girl Puzzle monument, and I on Tuesday February 15th at 6.30 pm EST as we celebrate the life and legacy of Nellie Bly. Free registration here https://www.nypl.org/…/clone-rihs-lecture-footsteps… (library barcode not necessary). Thanks to the New York Public Library and Roosevelt Island Historical Society.
The Girl Puzzle honouring the life and legacy of Nellie Bly was dedicated on 10 December 2021.
“Nellie Bly told the stories of other women. Now her own extraordinary story is being told in a monumental installation on Roosevelt Island in New York City.” Amanda Matthews, artist and creator of The Girl Puzzle monument celebrating Nellie Bly.
“This installation is spiritual. It’s not just faces. It’s not just concrete and bronze. It’s a spirit oflove, a spirit of peace. There’s hope here.” Cutia Bacon Brown, social worker whose face is among those representing women from diverse or marginalised communities in The Girl Puzzle.
Journalist Nellie Bly made history on Roosevelt Island in New York City in 1887. On 10 December 2021 she did it again. I was there.
The Girl Puzzle monument, honouring the life and legacy of Nellie Bly, was unveiled steps away from the scene where she pioneered a brave new journalism. Investigative reporting was born when Bly feigned madness to investigate the brutality suffered by vulnerable women committed to the insane asylum on the island bordering Manhattan. Her accounts in The New York World and book Ten Days in a Mad-House horrified the public and brought about sweeping changes.
Named after her first published piece in which Bly boldly defied discrimination, The Girl Puzzle celebrates America’s first investigative journalist who challenged injustice in asylums, prisons, sweat shops — and gave voices to the voiceless. Like The Girl Puzzle’s creator, artist Amanda Matthews of Prometheus Art (right), I and many others have worked to retrieve Nellie Bly from history and transport her – and all that she represents — into the 21st century to inspire us.
Although I most admire Bly for her investigative journalism, she is best known for her race around the world in 72 days in 1889-90 – alone with just a Gladstone bag – to beat Phileas Fogg’s fictional 80-day record. To pay tribute to her I followed in Nellie Bly’s global footsteps 125 years later. Following Nellie Bly: Her Record-Breaking Race Around the World captures both of our journeys.
The Girl Puzzle monument represents the culmination of my goal. Nellie’s role has been acknowledged in a remarkable memorial celebrating her journalism and the humanitarian values she embraced. Ground-breaking in many ways, the Girl Puzzle also helps to address a shocking imbalance — less than 8 percent of statues in America commemorate women.
The monument consists of five 7-foot bronze faces and progressively larger mirrored spheres that reflect the impact of her reporting. Bly’s face is joined by four others representing women from diverse or marginalised communities who have overcome challenges.
Noting that the dedication was held on United Nations Human Rights Day, artist Amanda Matthews said: “Nellie Bly began her journey as a girl who dared not to be defined by someone else and emerged a woman who transcended her time and changed the world, leaving it a better place. I realised that the best way to honour Nellie Bly is to continue her work of advocacy into the 21st century.”
Following Nellie Bly 