Elizabeth Bisland (1861–1929), who published her writings under her maiden name, was an American journalist and author active during the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. Although she was a prolific writer of essays and literary works, she is most widely remembered for her dramatic race around the world against fellow journalist Nellie Bly, an event that captured global attention at the turn of the decade.\n\nIn November 1889, Bisland was recruited to undertake a global journey to beat the fictional eighty-day record established in Jules Verne's famous novel. Departing at a moment's notice, Bisland traveled eastward, while Nellie Bly of the New York World traveled westward. Although Bisland completed her journey in seventy-six days—an extraordinary achievement for the era—Bly arrived back first, completing her trip in seventy-two days.\n\nDespite the sensational nature of this race, Bisland's true passion lay in literature rather than stunt journalism. The majority of her subsequent publications were literary works, including essays, biography, and poetry. She spent much of her later career contributing to the literary culture of her time, maintaining a reputation as a refined and intellectual voice in American letters until her death in 1929.
