In 1889, New York reporter Nellie Bly—inspired by Jules Verne’s book Around the World in 80 Days—began an around-the-world journey that she hoped to complete in less time. Her trip was sponsored by the newspaper that employed her, The World. Just hours after her ship set out across the Atlantic, the publisher of another New York publication, The Cosmopolitan magazine, put writer Elizabeth Bisland on a westbound train. Bisland was headed around the world in the opposite direction, thinking that she could beat Bly’s time. Only one woman could win the race, but both Bly and Bisland completed their journeys in record time and experienced unforgettable adventures.
