Intelligence Squared Blazing Ambition: the Life of Margaret Cavendish
Jan 3, 2024
Francesca Peacock, a journalist and author, joins historian Helen Carr to shed light on Margaret Cavendish, a groundbreaking 17th-century writer. They explore Cavendish’s solitude and struggles during the English Civil War, her unique marriage that empowered her writing, and her complex legacy as a proto-science fiction author. The duo highlights how Cavendish defied gender norms through her eclectic works, inviting listeners to appreciate her vision and impact on women's literature and modern thought.
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Bohemian Childhood
- Margaret Cavendish's childhood was unconventional and intellectually stimulating, filled with books and creative pursuits.
- She designed her own clothes and wrote stories in "baby books," showcasing a natural love for learning despite limited formal education.
Civil War Impact
- The English Civil War deeply impacted Margaret Cavendish's family; their home was ransacked, and her brothers fought as Royalists.
- One brother, Charles Lucas, was executed, and the family vault was desecrated, highlighting the war's brutality.
Meeting William
- Margaret Cavendish met William Cavendish in exile in France; he was a glamorous but debt-ridden Royalist commander.
- Despite a three-decade age gap, they exchanged love letters and poems, revealing a complex emotional bond.
