Bly was attractive when she was young, and this, plus her complete confidence in her own ability to do anything she wanted, got her noticed. It seems that people liked her in spite of her self-absorption and questionable writing skill. And whatever else might be said, she lived an interesting life.

The author attempted to paint Bly as a great feminist, but I didn't see much evidence that she was sincerely interested in any cause but her own. It's true she was reporting and running a business when few women were, but this was largely conceit and dogged determination more than a search for justice. The book was longer than it needed to be. The author is definitely of the "if you find it, put it in the book" school.