Margaret Cavendish Libri

Margaret Cavendish's collection features her innovative approach to drama, particularly evident in "The Female Academy," where she imagines a women-only educational institution. This play highlights the empowerment of women through education while also showcasing the intrigue and frustration of men who cannot access this space. The new edition includes a modernized text, comprehensive introduction, glosses, and a bibliography, making it suitable for classroom use and emphasizing Cavendish's unique contributions to literature and feminist thought.

From the second edition, published in 1668, in London, by A. Maxwell.

An eclectic collection of poetry by one of 17th century England’s boldest, smartest, and independent women.Margaret Cavendish, the Duchess of Newcastle-upon-Tyne, was a groundbreaking writer—a utopian visionary, a scientist, a science-fiction pioneer. She moved in philosophical circles that included Thomas Hobbes and René Descartes, and she produced startlingly modern poems unlike anything published in the seventeenth century or since, at once scientific and visionary, full of feminist passion and deep sympathy with the nonhuman world. In recent years, Cavendish has found many new admirers, and this selection of her verse by Michael Robbins is an ideal introduction to her singular poetic world.

This edition presents Margaret Cavendish's influential treatise on the philosophy of nature, highlighting her unique perspective in a male-dominated field. It explores her innovative ideas about the natural world, blending science and philosophy, and offers insights into her contributions to early modern thought. This work not only reflects Cavendish's intellectual prowess but also serves as a critical examination of the role of women in philosophy during her time.

In a bold move against societal norms, a group of unmarried women, led by Lady Happy, establishes a cloister dedicated to pleasure and individuality. As they embrace femininity and challenge the institution of marriage, they encounter resistance from both men and women who view their lifestyle as a threat. This closet drama by Margaret Cavendish explores themes of female empowerment and the struggle against patriarchal expectations, highlighting the tension between personal freedom and societal pressure.

This is the description of The New Blazing World (1666) - one of the earliest pieces of science fiction writing. It attempts, in the manner of contemporary utopian fantasies, to tell the story of a voyage to another world where speculative science reigns.