How did Nellie Bly change history?
Nellie Bly was the most famous American woman reporter of the 19th century. Her investigation of conditions at an insane asylum sparked outrage, legal action, and improvements of the treatment of the mentally ill. Her trip around the world in 72 days brought her even further fame.
Is Nellie Bly a true story?
Elizabeth Cochran Seaman (born Elizabeth Jane Cochran; May 5, 1864 – January 27, 1922), better known by her pen name Nellie Bly, was an American journalist, industrialist, inventor, and charity worker who was widely known for her record-breaking trip around the world in 72 days, in emulation of Jules Verne’s fictional …
What is the significance of Bly’s story to the history of psychology?
Bly’s covert operation exposing abuses at the asylum at Blackwell’s Island, now Roosevelt Island, pioneered a path for women in newspapers and launched what morphed into serious investigative journalism. The account by the 23-year-old “girl detective” shocked the public with its depiction of brutality and violence.

What did they do to Nellie Bly with a leach?
In both a retaliation (since Nellie stole Lottie’s (Anja Savcic) baby blanket from Grady’s office) and a pre-emptive strike (she doesn’t want Nellie to escape by seducing Josiah) Grady rather horrifically straps Nellie into a chastity belt and then straps her down to a table where she uses leeches to end her “quick- …
What did Nellie Bly investigate and expose to Americans?
Although, the editor declined her story he challenged Bly to investigate one of New York’s most notorious mental hospitals. Bly not only accepted the challenge, she decided to feign mental illness to gain admission and expose how patients were treated.

Is Matron Grady real?
While Nellie Bly is real, Matron Grady is a composite character, which gave Light the opportunity to spread her imagination and come up with her own backstory for the role, especially the questions she asked as to why Grady became the woman she was.