Author: Francesca Peacock
Genre: History, Nonfiction, Biography
Publisher: Pegasus Books
Publication Date: 2023
Pages: 358
Source: Netgalley/Publisher in exchange for an honest review.
Synopsis: A biography of the remarkable—and in her time scandalous—seventeenth-century writer Margaret Cavendish, who pioneered the science fiction novel.
"My ambition is not only to be Empress, but Authoress of a whole world."—Margaret Cavendish
Margaret Cavendish, then Lucas, was born in 1623 to an aristocratic family. In 1644, as England descended into civil war, she joined the court of the formidable Queen Henrietta Maria at Oxford. With the rest of the court she went into self-imposed exile in France. Her family's wealth and lands were forfeited by Parliament. It was in France that she met her partner, William Cavendish, Marquess of Newcastle-upon-Tyne, a marriage that made her the Duchess of Newcastle and would remain at the heart of both her life and career.
Margaret was a passionate writer. She wrote extensively on gender, science, philosophy, and published under her own name at a time when women simply did not do so. Her greatest work was The Blazing World, published in 1666, a utopian proto-novel that is thought to be one of the earliest works of science fiction that brought together Margaret's talents in poetry, philosophy, and science.
Yet hers is a legacy that has long divided opinion, and history has largely forgotten her, an undeserved fate for a brilliant, courageous proto-feminist. In Pure Wit, Francesca Peacock remedies this omission and shines a spotlight on the fascinating, pioneering, yet often complex and controversial life, of the multi-faceted Margaret Cavendish.
My Review: Duchess Margaret Cavendish was a famous science fiction writer, poet, philosopher, and feminist. She has penned the famous work, The Blazing World. This biography highlights Duchess Margaret Cavendish’s accomplishments. It also shows her passion for writing. This biography also shows her happy and loving marriage to the older Duke William Cavendish. It also shows how he supported her throughout her literary career.
Before reading this biography, I had never heard of Margaret Cavendish. Margaret was born into a life of aristocracy. Her father when she was young, and her mother was forced to raise her family alone. Because of this her mother became her role model. Margaret also fostered a love of reading. When she was old enough, she became a lady-in-waiting to Queen Henrietta Maria of England. During the Civil War, Margaret Cavendish followed the Queen into exile. During the exile, she fell in love with William Cavendish, the Marquess of Newcastle-upon-Tyne (who would later receive the title of Duke). Throughout their marriage, she would embark upon her literary career.
Overall, this was a very comprehensive biography. I did think the book tended to be very drawn-out and repetitive. The author also had the tendency to go on multiple tangents. I would have enjoyed it more if it was shorter. However, I have found Margaret Cavendish to be a very fascinating figure. I also love that she was a feminist! I like her marriage to William Cavendish. I did like how this book shows us why she was very controversial. Therefore, I came away from this biography wanting to read more about her and to read The Blazing World. I recommend this for fans of Antonia Fraser, Leanda de Lisle, and Tracy Borman!
Rating: 3 out of 5 stars
Comments
Post a Comment