About this ebook
The Incredible Nellie Bly is a visual biography of the groundbreaking investigative journalist from writer Luciana Cimino and illustrator Sergio Algozzino
Introduction by David Randal
Born in 1864, Nellie Bly was a woman who did not allow herself to be defined by the time she lived in; she rewrote the narrative and made her own way. Luciana Cimino’s meticulously researched graphic novel biography tells Bly’s story through Miriam, a fictionalized female student at the Columbia School of Journalism in 1921. While interviewing the famous journalist, Miriam learns not only about Bly’s more sensational adventures, but also about her focus on self-reliance from an early age, the scathing letter to the editor that jump-started her career as a newspaper columnist, and her dedication to the empowerment of women. In fact, in 1884, Bly was one of the few journalists who interviewed Belva Ann Lockwood, who was the first woman candidate for a presidential election—a contest that was ultimately won by Grover Cleveland—and Bly predicted correctly that women would not get the vote until 1920.
Of course, Bly’s most well-known exploits are also covered—how she pretended to be mad in order to get institutionalized so she could carry out an undercover investigation in an insane asylum, and Bly’s greatest feat of all, her journey around the world in 72 days—alone—which was unthinkable for a woman in the late 19th century. As Miriam learns more of Bly’s story, she realizes that the most important stories are necessarily the ones with the most dramatic headlines, but the ones that, in Nellie’s words, “come from a deep feeling.”
This beautifully executed graphic novel paints a portrait of a woman who defied societal expectations—not only with her investigative journalism but also with her keen mind for industry and her original inventions.
Introduction by David Randal
Born in 1864, Nellie Bly was a woman who did not allow herself to be defined by the time she lived in; she rewrote the narrative and made her own way. Luciana Cimino’s meticulously researched graphic novel biography tells Bly’s story through Miriam, a fictionalized female student at the Columbia School of Journalism in 1921. While interviewing the famous journalist, Miriam learns not only about Bly’s more sensational adventures, but also about her focus on self-reliance from an early age, the scathing letter to the editor that jump-started her career as a newspaper columnist, and her dedication to the empowerment of women. In fact, in 1884, Bly was one of the few journalists who interviewed Belva Ann Lockwood, who was the first woman candidate for a presidential election—a contest that was ultimately won by Grover Cleveland—and Bly predicted correctly that women would not get the vote until 1920.
Of course, Bly’s most well-known exploits are also covered—how she pretended to be mad in order to get institutionalized so she could carry out an undercover investigation in an insane asylum, and Bly’s greatest feat of all, her journey around the world in 72 days—alone—which was unthinkable for a woman in the late 19th century. As Miriam learns more of Bly’s story, she realizes that the most important stories are necessarily the ones with the most dramatic headlines, but the ones that, in Nellie’s words, “come from a deep feeling.”
This beautifully executed graphic novel paints a portrait of a woman who defied societal expectations—not only with her investigative journalism but also with her keen mind for industry and her original inventions.
Ratings and reviews
4.0
2 reviews
Janice Tangen
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March 2, 2021
I think it will be great in print or on Adobe Digital Editions, but as an ebook it is a bust. I am familiar with famed American investigative journalist (May 5, 1864-January 27, 1922) Nellie Bly's Ten Days in a Mad-House and Bly vs. Bisland: Beating Phileas Fogg in a Race Around the World and even a short biography or two so I thought that it would be a simple fun read, but the challenge of enlarging print and illustrations in an ebook format were beyond my patience. I am sad about that, but I DO plan to get the print edition when available. I requested and received a free ebook copy from ABRAMS ComicArts via Netgalley.
About the author
Luciana Cimino is a professional journalist. She worked for 10 years at the historical Italian newspaper L’Unità, where she wrote about politics and news about social issues, poverty, immigrants, and school policies. Since 2015 she’s been part of the press staff of the journalism festival Festival di giornalismo Internazionale.
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