Eighty Days

Nellie Bly and Elizabeth Bisland's History-Making Race Around the World

By: Matthew Goodman

Narrated by: Kathe Mazur

NATIONAL BESTSELLER

On November 14, 1889, Nellie Bly, the crusading young female reporter for Joseph Pulitzer’s World newspaper, left New York City by steamship on a quest to break the record for the fastest trip around the world. Also departing from New York that day—and heading in the opposite direction by train—was a young journalist from The Cosmopolitan magazine, Elizabeth Bisland. Each woman was determined to outdo Jules Verne’s fictional hero Phileas Fogg and circle the globe in less than eighty days. The dramatic race that ensued would span twenty-eight thousand miles, captivate the nation, and change both competitors’ lives forever.

The two women were a study in contrasts. Nellie Bly was a scrappy, hard-driving, ambitious reporter from Pennsylvania coal country who sought out the most sensational news stories, often going undercover to expose social injustice. Genteel and elegant, Elizabeth Bisland had been born into an aristocratic Southern family, preferred novels and poetry to newspapers, and was widely referred to as the most beautiful woman in metropolitan journalism. Both women, though, were talented writers who had carved out successful careers in the hypercompetitive, male-dominated world of big-city newspapers. Eighty Days brings these trailblazing women to life as they race against time and each other, unaided and alone, ever aware that the slightest delay could mean the difference between victory and defeat.

A vivid real-life re-creation of the race and its aftermath, from its frenzied start to the nail-biting dash at its finish, Eighty Days is history with the heart of a great adventure novel. Here’s the journey that takes us behind the walls of Jules Verne’s Amiens estate, into the back alleys of Hong Kong, onto the grounds of a Ceylon tea plantation, through storm-tossed ocean crossings and mountains blocked by snowdrifts twenty feet deep, and to many more unexpected and exotic locales from London to Yokohama. Along the way, we are treated to fascinating glimpses of everyday life in the late nineteenth century—an era of unprecedented technological advances, newly remade in the image of the steamship, the railroad, and the telegraph. For Nellie Bly and Elizabeth Bisland—two women ahead of their time in every sense of the word—were not only racing around the world. They were also racing through the very heart of the Victorian age.

Praise for Eighty Days

“What a story! What an extraordinary historical adventure!” (Amanda Foreman, author of A World on Fire)

“A fun, fast, page-turning action-adventure . . . the exhilarating journey of two pioneering women, Nellie Bly and Elizabeth Bisland, as they race around the globe.” (Karen Abbott, author of American Rose)

“[A] marvelous tale of adventure . . . The story of these two pioneering women unfolds amid the excitement, setbacks, crises, missed opportunities and a global trek unlike any other in its time. . . . Why would you want to miss out on the incredible journey that takes you to the finish line page after nail-biting page?” (Chicago Sun-Times (Best Books of the Year))

“In a stunning feat of narrative nonfiction, Matthew Goodman brings the nineteenth century to life, tracing the history of two intrepid journalists as they tackled two male-dominated fields—world travel and journalism—in an era of incredible momentum. Jules Verne, train and ship travel, and international snapshots are included as Goodman laces biography with history in a book that has something for everyone.” (Minneapolis Star Tribune)

©2013 Matthew Goodman (P)2013 Random House Audio

Critic reviews

“What a story! What an extraordinary historical adventure!” (Amanda Foreman, author of A World on Fire)

“Vividly imagined and gorgeously detailed, Eighty Days recounts the exhilarating journey of two pioneering women, Nellie Bly and Elizabeth Bisland, as they race around the globe. Matthew Goodman has crafted a fun, fast, page-turning action-adventure that will make you wish you could carry their bags.” (Karen Abbott, author of American Rose)

“What a delight to circumnavigate the globe with pioneering journalists Nellie Bly and Elizabeth Bisland. The two women carve out an adventurous path in a constrained Victorian world that cares as much about their marriage prospects and the number of trunks they pack as about their trailblazing career aspirations. Matthew Goodman’s lively writing and detailed research bring the story of these two remarkable women to life as they race around the world, full steam ahead, giving us an intimate look at a late-nineteenth-century world that is suddenly shrinking in the face of rapid technological change. Only one of these two remarkable women can win the race around the world, but the reader of this fascinating tale will be certain of a reward.” (Elizabeth Letts, author of The Eighty-Dollar Champion)

Mediocre and Long

I didn't love this book although I really wanted to. The author seemed more interested in the general history of the time than in his main story line. There were far too many segues and non-sequitors for my liking, and there was something in the tone that made me think the author strongly disliked his subjects. At the end of the day this is too long to be worth picking up as a filler and probably not worth reading for fun.

American Women Point the Way to the Future of the United States and Americans

Matthew Goodman has written a fascinating biography of two women who managed to travel around the world alone at a time when women were generally prevented from achieving anything alone. One traveled eastward, the other westward, both at the behest of their bosses in an effort to improve circulation of the publications for which the women worked. The adventures and experiences of these women were similar and different because the women themselves were alike but also different in many ways. Listeners will "see" the world in 1889-1890 through the eyes of Bly and Bisland while getting a biography of all Americans at that same time and seeing the rise of the United States foreshadowed in their experiences and lives. I highly recommend the story and the narrator, Kathe Mazur. I'll be looking for more books written by Goodman and others narrated by Mazur.

Historical and interesting for sure!

What did you love best about Eighty Days?

I found that I was surprised most how the world around me has changed so much from 1883 to now.....and how these two women lived, whether at home or abroad. How lucky I am.

What did you like best about this story?

I loved hearing about the foreign countries and thier customs, etc.

What does Kathe Mazur bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

Well, it's more of a first hand account, rather than just a news story.

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

I didn't have an extreme reaction, but they certainly were much more brave about thier undertaking than I would be even in the present day. I neither laughed nor cried, I was more surprised at thier gumption! And some of the people they spoke with...Mr & Mrs Jules Verne and Mr. Pulitzer among others. A very interesting book, for sure!

Great historical story

Excellent narration. Intriguing story on the events of the trip and beyond. I was pleased to learn so much about each woman and who they were before and after their adventures around the world

Who knew?

Eighty Days: Nellie Bly and Elizabeth Bisland's History-Making Race Around the World, by Matthew Goodman is a darn good story, full of little known facts, offering a more than a snapshot of late nineteenth century America and the journalism and prejudices of the time, and providing a bit of a cautionary tale.

While the story of Nelly Bly’s “race” around the world is the center of the book, there's good context provided of the run-up to the event. Indeed, much of the meat of the book is life after the race. I hadn't known about Elizabeth Bisland (who’s actually a much more likable character – especially in the sense that I’d have liked to have been like her).

PS: Nelly did the trip with but one dress. Elizabeth a good bit more!

There are beautiful descriptions of the places that Nelly and Elizabeth visit and an interesting perspective on how steam power (ships and trains) changed the world so quickly.

Much of the book takes place after the race, and does drag a bit; there’s some repetition and the book could probably have been edited a little more firmly, but the way it addresses celebrity, and its impact on Nelly Bly’s life, is thought-provocative. B+

Interesting but Strangely Written Tale

What did you like best about Eighty Days? What did you like least?

I liked all the historical details and the performance of the narrator. I most disliked the disjointed and repetitive writing style. It seemed that the author jumped back and forth too much, repeated information, and took a long time to get the story told. Also, the epilogue seemed more an intricate part of the story, with, again, much repetition. I think the book could have been organized to have a better flow while still including the interesting history.

Has Eighty Days turned you off from other books in this genre?

No.

What does Kathe Mazur bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

I thought she did an excellent job of portraying the personalities of the characters and keeping some of the more tedious historical facts interesting.

If this book were a movie would you go see it?

Yes.

A fun read

Would you consider the audio edition of Eighty Days to be better than the print version?

I have no idea, what I would like to see available are more tales of intrepid, female Victorian
travelers.

Love the story - Unsung heroines

If you could sum up Eighty Days in three words, what would they be?

Adventurous. Informative, Entertaining

Who was your favorite character and why?

Nellie Bly - Reminds me of myself but with more gutts.

Would you listen to another book narrated by Kathe Mazur?

Yes

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

When she met with Jules Verne in France

Any additional comments?

Good Read!

Eighty Days, history, biographical, very interesting facts, funny stories, sadness, winner and almost winners. Loved it!

I read it and enjoyed learning so many interesting things. I later decided to listen while I exercised. I found myself excitedly looking forward to my favorite parts. Above all, this is a fun book to read.

Faster than the speed of science fiction

First the negative: the author follows the modern annoying trend of stressing how sexist and racist and sexist and imperialistic and sexist the world was in 1890. That doesn't add anything to the narrative and could have shortened the production by an hour.
The positive: these women are impressive by any standard. We have 2 women, one of whom is unaware of the other and the 2nd cajoled into going at the last second are racing around the world in opposite directions trying to beat the time of the mythical Englishman from the mind of Jules Verne (Jules Verne himself was a very enthusiastic supporter of Nellie Bly). In our age of jet travel and a world tailored to the tourist and business traveller we have a hard time comprehending the untamed nature of the world in that time. That a journey of this type could be done in 80 days, much less by a single woman who spoke only English, was highly doubtful. I came here after reading Nellie Bly's 72 days; much of which is referenced here. I am a bit annoyed at this author criticizing Bly for not spending enough time or effort pursuing social justice while doing the impossible. It's a good book. There is also a book of the combined writings of these 2 women to give a running chronology but I haven't seen it.