Inspirational Women – Stanfords Blog

Women’s History Month: Exploring Female Travellers

By Rosemary J Brown

Women in history shouldn’t be a mystery … and that includes female travellers. Challenged by traditions that placed them firmly in the home, these women burst through social and geographical boundaries to explore, experience and document the world.

Women like intrepid explorer Isabella Bird (1831–1904), queen of the desert Gertrude Bell (1868–1926) who mapped out Iraq, and wayfaring biologist Mary Kingsley (1862–1900). They all left their inhibitions at home and journeyed into the unknown alone. But the female traveller I know best of all is trailblazing journalist Nellie Bly (1864-1922) who circled the world faster than anyone ever had – 72 days – in 1890.

Monumental Tribute to Pioneer of Investigative Journalism: Nellie Bly

-by Rosemary J Brown

Journalist Nellie Bly made history on Roosevelt Island in New York City in 1887. On 10 December 2021 she did it again. I was there.

The Girl Puzzle monument, honouring the life and legacy of Nellie Bly, was unveiled steps away from the scene where she pioneered a brave new journalism. Investigative reporting was born when Bly feigned madness to investigate the brutality suffered by vulnerable women committed to the insane asylum on the island bordering Manhattan. Her accounts in The New York World and book Ten Days in a Mad-House horrified the public and brought about sweeping changes.

Happy 90th Birthday Dervla Murphy

The award winning travel writer Dervla Murphy turns 90 on Sunday 28th November. Stanfords wishes her a very happy birthday.

Irish Examiner News Picture 01-10-2011 Saturday Social Page. Travel writer Dervla Murphy at her home in Lismore, Co Waterford. Picture: Dan Linehan

Dervla Murphy has won worldwide praise for her writing and has been described as a ‘travel legend’ and ‘the First Lady of Irish cycling’. In March she joined Bill Bryson, Michael Palin, Jan Morris, Colin Thubron and Paul Theroux and became a recipient of the Edward Stanford Award for Outstanding Contribution to Travel Writing.

Following Nellie Bly

GLOBETROTTER NELLIE BLY’S ADVICE FOR THE ADVENTURER

Six top tips

By Rosemary J Brown

Trailblazing journalist Nellie Bly circled the world faster than anyone ever had in 1890. She travelled alone — literally with the clothes on her back and a Gladstone bag – to beat the fictional 80-day record of Phileas Fogg. When she won her race around the world in 72 days, it was called “the most remarkable of all feats of circumnavigation ever performed by a human being”.

The Life and Travels of Isabella Bird

UNCOMFORTABLE TRAVEL AND BAD ADVICE

Being an early female explorer

By Jacki Hill-Murphy

While I was writing The Life and Travels of Isabella Bird the question on my mind was: could we possibly have similar adventures to Isabella today? While travelling to hitherto unknown countries Isabella’s methods to reach the heart of a place, its people, their culture and the wildest features of its landscape would be totally off limits to us today; in a century and a half we have cleaned up and commingled our world and turned slow travel into fast.

International Women’s Day Recommended Reads

To celebrate International Women’s Day 2019, we have chosen some of our current favourite books by and about inspirational women.

Solo Motorcycle Adventures: Stanfords Travel Writers Festival 2019

Travel writers Antonia Bolingbroke-Kent and Lois Pryce talk to Julia Wheeler about their extensive solo travels by motorbike in many regions all over the world including India’s Arunachal Pradesh, Iran and South America. Continue reading Solo Motorcycle Adventures: Stanfords Travel Writers Festival 2019

Be More Adventuress this International Women’s Day

Whether it’s exploring new territories, sailing around the world, cycling across continents, or immersing themselves in a different culture, we’ve been seriously inspired by the women writers whose books have graced our shelves.

And it’s not just the writers. Since opening in 1853 we have heard some amazing stories of the adventures our female customers have been on. We even have a letter from Florence Nightingale thanking Stanfords for a mounted map. Continue reading Be More Adventuress this International Women’s Day