Around the World in Seventy-Two Days

A literary time machine brought to life

(5 stars)

sfemet

Once you understand the time, place and target audience, you will love this. The reader brings out the charm and directness of Nellie's words. For those of us who dream of around the world adventures, it ticks all the boxes. Nellie was such an approachable journalist in a time when women writers were often consigned to novels. Altogether satisfying.

(4 stars)

treen

I've been fascinated by Nellie Bly for a long time so I was pleased that the complete text of her trip around the world is available. The reader was clear and authentic, enough that my kids asked if it was really Nellie Bly reading her own book. Sorry to disappoint them 😀

Brilliantly read

(5 stars)

Timothy Ferguson

Nellie Bly manages to circumnavigate the globe in her targeted time with only a little piece of hand luggage, a custom-made dress, and the endless financial support of the World newspaper. They do cheat a little by putting on a special express train to get her across the United States. I thought this book was charming, and aside from the dull clang when Bly uses terms now considered racist, I found her quite open-minded for a Western traveller. She is thrilled by things like curry and catamarans, and can usually be depended on not to downplay things she sees because they are foreign. At the same time, some of the things she cites as alien are just bizarre. For example she describes an Egyptian child held to its mother’s side, holding on like a monkey on a tree. Now, potential racism aside, surely that’s a hip carry? How can she not ever have seen a woman (or man) perform a hip carry before? That’s the bit that’s interesting with Bly herself: some of the things she claims to have never seen before are just so ubiquitous that it’s unbelievable that she could state she has not seen them in her normal life. There’s also the ambiguity of her “confirmed spinster” status. She takes a great deal of time to discuss the beauty of the women around her. She notes her temptation to return Mrs Verne’s French greeting, of pecks on her cheeks, with a proper American smooch. Is she subtly signalling an inclination, or is this again part of the alieness of historical people? I thought the Librivox version of this was fantastic and congratulate the reader. It’s based on a free e-text at Open Library. This review originally appeared on <a href="http://gcbooks.wordpress.com/" rel="nofollow">book coasters</a>.

interesting bit of history

(5 stars)

A LibriVox Listener

I've always been interested in history from the perspective of women. This book is very interesting and informative about travel pre-1900 by women. The book is well written by a female reporter and a pleasure to listen to by this reader. The pronounciation is excellent and very clear. The expression of the reader is perfect and she captures the excitement and fun of Nelly's endeavour. It was quite an achievement in 1890 when plane travel did not exist. Nowadays we can travel around the world in less than 72 hours. I would recommend this book for anyone interested in women's history.

Free Audio Review

(5 stars)

FNH

This is the second Librivox audio book of Nellie Bly's that I've listened to and I have to say that it is rather excellent. The reader is outstanding in the role. The books text is "journalistic" in that it is of an episodic newpaper like presentation. The writer showed enthusiasm and delight at all of the environments she found herself in and the reader has brought this to life. In fact even if you dont like the story I think you'll be enthused by the reading. For more Free Audio Reviews visit http://freeaudioreview.blogspot.com/

Interesting, Enteraining and Well-Read

(4 stars)

Bee46

Thanks to Mary Reagan for taking the time to read to us the compelling story of Nellie Bly's adventure in her attempt to circumnavigate the world to beat Phileas Fogg's fictitious attempt to do the same in 80 days. Mary did a great job in holding the reader's interest as she strived in her endeavor to have the listener believe that it was Nellie Bly herself regaling her journey. It is a story well worth a listen.

superb

(5 stars)

Frank Davis

A fantastic reading by Mary Reagan, she captured the joy of the tale and nailed all of the accents. An epic story every bit as magnificent as Phileas' trip. This felt progressive for its time but you can still expect plenty of 1870s junk.

Fun and True Adventure

(5 stars)

Athena’s Grandma

Excellently Read! With lots of Enthusiasm! A Fun and True Adventure! Be sure and listen to Nellie’s excellently narrated book “10 Days in a Madhouse”. Another outstanding true story with a wonderful reader!