Philosopher, poet, playwright, science fiction writer, scientist, and celebrity Margaret Cavendish (1623-1673) was a public and publishing sensation. In this episode, Jacke talks to biographer Francesca Peacock about her new book, Pure Wit: The Revolutionary Life of Margaret Cavendish. PLUS Patrick Whitmarsh (Writing Our Extinction: Anthropocene Fiction and Vertical Science) selects his choice for the last book he will ever read.Help support the show at patreon.com/literature or historyofliterature.com/donate. The History of Literature Podcast is a member of Lit Hub Radio and the Podglomerate Network. Learn more at www.thepodglomerate.com/historyofliterature. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Margaret Cavendish, a trailblazing writer in a male-dominated world, is discussed by journalist Francesca Peacock and historian Helen Carr. They explore Cavendish's challenging childhood, her education and writing career, her exploration of science and philosophy, and her fascinating psychedelic writing, including The Blazing World, considered one of the first science fiction works and an exploration of utopian feminist thought.

Margaret Cavendish, 17th-century trailblazer in fiction and author of the first science fiction book, discussed by Francesca Peacock. Topics include her scandalous lesbian affair, Samuel Pepys' obsession with her, and her role in London's elite.

Explore the life of Margaret Cavendish, a scandalous 17th-century writer who challenged convention with her audacious behavior and proto-feminist writing. This podcast dives into her experiences during the English Civil War, her bold publishing endeavor, and her exploration of radical subjects in her plays. Discover the dual-sided nature of this influential figure and her groundbreaking work 'The Blazing World', a utopian proto-feminist track.

Aristocrat writer and thinker Margaret Cavendish visited the Royal Society in 1667, intriguing and irritating the male elite. The podcast explores her life, ambitions, and perspectives on experimental philosophy. It also delves into the dynamic between theorists and experimentalists in science, technological and financial constraints in scientific testing, and the unexpected discoveries at the Large Hadron Collider.