Ten Days in a Mad-House and Other Stories

Ten Days in a Mad-House, by Nelly Bly, provides an insightful perspective into the way that the mentally ill were treated during the latter part of the 19th Century. Nellie's intrusion into this world is nothing short of frightening. The most shocking aspect of Bly's expose' isn't the way patients were treated, but rather the ease with which a moderately sane person could find herself taken out of society and placed in a world where madness was the norm. A wonderful short read, and a must for anyone studying late 19th century society (sane or insane).