Nellie Bly was a popular American reporter best known for her record-breaking trip around the world in 72 days. Bly also faked insanity and was admitted to a mental institute for 10 days. Bly wrote detailed accounts on her trip around the world and her stay at the mental institute. Ten Days in a Mad-House was extremely influential for its description of the horrible conditions in the insane asylum. Bly's idea to travel around the world was influenced by the Jules Verne book Around the World in Eighty Days. Bly beat the fictional record of eighty days and also took some time in France to visit Verne.