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The traveller now has a revolutionary little invention: the electronic reading light. It allows you to carry dozens, even hundreds of books on your motorcycle. Something that was impossible in the past. So here is one of my travel readings: Nellie BLY’s 72-day world tour.
In 1889, a 25-year-old journalist took up a senseless challenge for the time: to do better than Phileas Fogg, Jules Verne’s imaginary hero in the novel “Around the World in 80 Days. »
She left New York (from the port of Hoboken in New Jersey to be precise.) On November 14, 1889 at 9:40 am with only one small bag and one dress. Out of curiosity, she takes a few dollars with her to… to see if the American currency is accepted by exchange offices abroad! In Amiens, she spent an evening with Jules Vernes and his wife Honorine before continuing her journey to Brindisi.
His epic is relayed by the New York World, whose editor was none other than the famous Pulitzer, and, like Phileas Fogg, bets are made throughout the United States on his adventure.
In the end, she ends her world tour by… 72 days, 6 hours, 11 minutes and 14 seconds!
Jules Verne himself greeted his achievement in a telegram:
“Amiens, January 25 Never doubted Nellie Bly’s success, her intrepidity made her foresee it.Hooray! For her and for the director of the World!Hooray! Hooray! »
Jules Verne
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