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Pure Wit: The Revolutionary Life of Margaret Cavendish
A biography of the remarkable, and in her time scandalous, seventeenth-century writer Margaret Cavendish, Duchess of Newcastle.
'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 much older partner, William Cavendish, Marquess of Newcastle-upon-Tyne, a marriage that would remain at the heart of both her life and career.
Cavendish 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. Yet hers is a legacy that divides opinion. And history has largely forgotten her, an undeserved fate for a brilliant, courageous proto-feminist.
In Pure Wit, Francesca Peacock shines a spotlight on the fascinating, pioneering, yet often complex and controversial life of Margaret Cavendish.
'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 much older partner, William Cavendish, Marquess of Newcastle-upon-Tyne, a marriage that would remain at the heart of both her life and career.
Cavendish 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. Yet hers is a legacy that divides opinion. And history has largely forgotten her, an undeserved fate for a brilliant, courageous proto-feminist.
In Pure Wit, Francesca Peacock shines a spotlight on the fascinating, pioneering, yet often complex and controversial life of Margaret Cavendish.
384 pages, Hardcover
First published September 14, 2023
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1008 people want to read
About the author
Francesca Peacock
1 book3 followersFrancesca Peacock is an author and arts journalist. She writes art criticism, book reviews, and features for The Telegraph, The Times, The FT, The Mail on Sunday, Literary Review, The Spectator World, Poetry London, and a host of other publications. Francesca has appeared on BBC Radio 4’s Front Row to discuss her journalism.
Francesca read English at Oxford, where she fell in love with early modern women’s writing through the rather incongruous medium of gardening pamphlets.
Francesca read English at Oxford, where she fell in love with early modern women’s writing through the rather incongruous medium of gardening pamphlets.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 44 reviews
May 12, 2023
This is an engaging introduction to Margaret Cavendish for a general audience who are unlikely to have heard of her. Cavendish's The Blazing World is extraordinary for its radical approach to re-making the world in a kind of seventeenth century sci-fi... as well as being more than a little eccentric and dotty! Worm-men, anyone?!
Peacock writes in a lively way and conjures up Cavendish's social world very well. However, I think I'm not the right audience for this popular historical biography which had me fidgeting restlessly for the way it simplifies historicised terms and concepts. For example, Cavendish certainly plays with the idea of women loving other women (not radical or unusual in this period: think of a play like Twelfth Night) but to call it 'lesbianism' is anachronistic and misleading.
Similarly, there's not much point discussing Cavendish as a 'feminist' or even 'proto-feminist' because these modern terms of reference just don't transfer in any straightforward way to the seventeenth century. Cavendish, the Duchess of Newcastle, certainly was a standout figure in society and contested some ideas about marriage but she wouldn't have been out in the streets campaigning for universal suffrage or caring for the plight of non-aristocratic women, I suspect. In fact, it's her aristocratic status that partly both funds her interests in science and enables her eccentricity. She was close to Charles I, went into exile with his queen, and was a staunch royalist throughout the Civil Wars - a believer in the divine right of kings rather than parliament as the representative of the people.
Even the way she is talked about as radically independent when it comes to writing could be usefully qualified: plenty of women wrote in the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries, some of them wrote under their own names in equally bold ways (Mary Wroth, for example, the niece of Mary Sidney who also wrote and translated from French). But perhaps I'm being too critical because this isn't positioning itself as an academic study.
For a general audience this is a witty and lively romp through the life of the wayward and endearingly oddball woman who was Margaret Cavendish.
Thanks to Head of Zeus for an ARC via NetGalley
Peacock writes in a lively way and conjures up Cavendish's social world very well. However, I think I'm not the right audience for this popular historical biography which had me fidgeting restlessly for the way it simplifies historicised terms and concepts. For example, Cavendish certainly plays with the idea of women loving other women (not radical or unusual in this period: think of a play like Twelfth Night) but to call it 'lesbianism' is anachronistic and misleading.
Similarly, there's not much point discussing Cavendish as a 'feminist' or even 'proto-feminist' because these modern terms of reference just don't transfer in any straightforward way to the seventeenth century. Cavendish, the Duchess of Newcastle, certainly was a standout figure in society and contested some ideas about marriage but she wouldn't have been out in the streets campaigning for universal suffrage or caring for the plight of non-aristocratic women, I suspect. In fact, it's her aristocratic status that partly both funds her interests in science and enables her eccentricity. She was close to Charles I, went into exile with his queen, and was a staunch royalist throughout the Civil Wars - a believer in the divine right of kings rather than parliament as the representative of the people.
Even the way she is talked about as radically independent when it comes to writing could be usefully qualified: plenty of women wrote in the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries, some of them wrote under their own names in equally bold ways (Mary Wroth, for example, the niece of Mary Sidney who also wrote and translated from French). But perhaps I'm being too critical because this isn't positioning itself as an academic study.
For a general audience this is a witty and lively romp through the life of the wayward and endearingly oddball woman who was Margaret Cavendish.
Thanks to Head of Zeus for an ARC via NetGalley
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January 14, 2024It's only when you dig into the details of Margaret Cavendish's life that you start to get a sense of how remarkable she was -- you might not have wanted to know her, but you'd have been fascinated to hear the latest gossip about her (not to mention eagerly reading her new book). She's been the subject of a handful of biographies, and to that list Francesca Peacock adds this book, her nonfiction debut - a delightfully readable thing. Here's my full review (of the US edition, which has - believe it or not - a much better dust jacket cover): https://openlettersreview.com/posts/p...
March 26, 2024
Literary biographies that include "Revolutionary" or "Radical" in their titles are often a sign that something is amiss. With this one, I think the subject was revolutionary, but not in the ways that Peacock every seriously considers. There's a lot of "oohing" and "aahing" at how Cavendish had the gumption to write about and to contemporary thinkers of her day: Henry More, Thomas Hobbes, Descartes, etc. But, Peacock is so charmed by the gumption herself that she never really considers the implications of what the Duchess of Newcastle has to say, beyond the mandatory summary of "vitalist materialism." Margaret Cavendish, cheeky and bold, becomes an object of fascination, not a rightful subject of her own literary biography. Peacock tells the reader to take Cavendish seriously, but she never really does it herself.
Other reviewers have noted that there's already been a mainstream biography of Cavendish; Peacock's doesn't add much, except some striking juxtapositions (the obligatory Virginia Woolf, who denigrated Cavendish, the Bronte sisters, bell hooks, etc.). How similar this book is to Mad Madge, I can't comment--I haven't read it. Danielle Dutton also wrote a pretty good novel about Margaret Cavendish, which I have read. There's certainly a lot to enjoy here for readers who are unfamiliar with Cavendish, and Peacock's prose is extremely readable and leisurely. But, the book's argument hinges on the idea that it is interesting and important to point to and gawk at a woman who led a non-traditional life. But is it?
Margaret Cavendish's life was interesting. But that's not what makes her a compelling figure to me. She wrote profusely, and her writing reveals quite a lot about early modern anxieties about gender, about friendship, about the environment, etc. Her ideas often were deeply radical. They were also human, thoughtful, and complex. Her work expresses an interest in endless potentiality, in infinities. I have decidedly mixed feelings about this book, as the Guardian critic Rachel Cooke, but Cooke and I have diverging qualms: where she's uninterested in the philosophical ideas of Cavendish, I wanted the book to be somehow grounded in more of this--it was, after all, the argument that Peacock seems to be advancing, no?
Perhaps here's the issue: Peacock wants to present Margaret Cavendish as a #girlboss feminist, and as an early modern genderfuck crusader. In that way, she aims to illuminate a rather complicated life, but in so doing it becomes simple and recognizable (and recognizably cliche) to her present readers. How many books are there about women who defied expectations? And what, did they defy exactly? That never seems to matter--what matters is that we can pluck an ostensibly obscure woman (which, is Margaret Cavendish actually that obscure? I'd read The Blazing World well before I'd seen it on a syllabus) out of history and say "look, how outrageous!" This is a reductive history, of singling out viragos as they come, and calling them feminist because they are...women. We know these women. We've read about them before. Why not have a Cavendish who isn't entirely comprehensible? Why not have a Cavendish who lived a life that was interesting in its own right, but which cannot simply be paired with 20th and 21st century corollaries?
Ultimately, if my lukewarm reception dissuades readers unfamiliar with Cavendish, I would say that they should give this book a try. Peacock's writing is breezy, and the book is well-paced and often fun. But I don't think that it establishes its conclusions well or editorializes in ways that are particularly illuminating. Even if I didn't find the book particularly convincing, I cannot say that I had a bad time reading this (though, I did roll my eyes every so often...particularly Peacock's reductive reading of Milton).
Other reviewers have noted that there's already been a mainstream biography of Cavendish; Peacock's doesn't add much, except some striking juxtapositions (the obligatory Virginia Woolf, who denigrated Cavendish, the Bronte sisters, bell hooks, etc.). How similar this book is to Mad Madge, I can't comment--I haven't read it. Danielle Dutton also wrote a pretty good novel about Margaret Cavendish, which I have read. There's certainly a lot to enjoy here for readers who are unfamiliar with Cavendish, and Peacock's prose is extremely readable and leisurely. But, the book's argument hinges on the idea that it is interesting and important to point to and gawk at a woman who led a non-traditional life. But is it?
Margaret Cavendish's life was interesting. But that's not what makes her a compelling figure to me. She wrote profusely, and her writing reveals quite a lot about early modern anxieties about gender, about friendship, about the environment, etc. Her ideas often were deeply radical. They were also human, thoughtful, and complex. Her work expresses an interest in endless potentiality, in infinities. I have decidedly mixed feelings about this book, as the Guardian critic Rachel Cooke, but Cooke and I have diverging qualms: where she's uninterested in the philosophical ideas of Cavendish, I wanted the book to be somehow grounded in more of this--it was, after all, the argument that Peacock seems to be advancing, no?
Perhaps here's the issue: Peacock wants to present Margaret Cavendish as a #girlboss feminist, and as an early modern genderfuck crusader. In that way, she aims to illuminate a rather complicated life, but in so doing it becomes simple and recognizable (and recognizably cliche) to her present readers. How many books are there about women who defied expectations? And what, did they defy exactly? That never seems to matter--what matters is that we can pluck an ostensibly obscure woman (which, is Margaret Cavendish actually that obscure? I'd read The Blazing World well before I'd seen it on a syllabus) out of history and say "look, how outrageous!" This is a reductive history, of singling out viragos as they come, and calling them feminist because they are...women. We know these women. We've read about them before. Why not have a Cavendish who isn't entirely comprehensible? Why not have a Cavendish who lived a life that was interesting in its own right, but which cannot simply be paired with 20th and 21st century corollaries?
Ultimately, if my lukewarm reception dissuades readers unfamiliar with Cavendish, I would say that they should give this book a try. Peacock's writing is breezy, and the book is well-paced and often fun. But I don't think that it establishes its conclusions well or editorializes in ways that are particularly illuminating. Even if I didn't find the book particularly convincing, I cannot say that I had a bad time reading this (though, I did roll my eyes every so often...particularly Peacock's reductive reading of Milton).
July 16, 2023
Pure Wit by Francesca Peacock is an example of when a writer takes on a subject perfectly suited to their skills. Pure Wit is about the life of Margaret Cavendish, a noblewoman and writer in England during the years before and after the Glorious Revolution of 1688. Needless to say, this time period is full of interesting events, but the fact that Cavendish was a women and a writer is the story here. I cannot, unless I make this review excessively long, sum up Cavendish appropriately. She was an early feminist but also not really. Her books are both deeply thoughtful and a bit ridiculous. She defies a short description.
Luckily, Peacock is up to the task and then some. The book is mostly a high level overview of the time period Cavendish lived, plus a short biography, plus literary criticism. Many authors would end up with an absolute mess of tangents and bungled narrative. Peacock's ability to balance many different tones is key to why this book is so readable. Peacock knows when to take her subject seriously, but also will lighten the mood and poke fun at things which are patently ridiculous, including Cavendish herself. The key here is that Peacock clearly has affection for Cavendish, but is not above criticizing her when necessary. I had no idea what to expect when I opened the book, but I didn't need to worry. This is a fun read.
(This book was provided as an advance copy by Netgalley and Head of Zeus books.)
Luckily, Peacock is up to the task and then some. The book is mostly a high level overview of the time period Cavendish lived, plus a short biography, plus literary criticism. Many authors would end up with an absolute mess of tangents and bungled narrative. Peacock's ability to balance many different tones is key to why this book is so readable. Peacock knows when to take her subject seriously, but also will lighten the mood and poke fun at things which are patently ridiculous, including Cavendish herself. The key here is that Peacock clearly has affection for Cavendish, but is not above criticizing her when necessary. I had no idea what to expect when I opened the book, but I didn't need to worry. This is a fun read.
(This book was provided as an advance copy by Netgalley and Head of Zeus books.)
November 28, 2025
”Nor does she have a place within the canon of female writers who fought for women’s writing to be taken seriously --- But for centuries after her birth, it’s time for that to change. Woolf once wrote that ’the crazy Duchess became a bogey to frighten clever girls with’: what better time to prove we’re not scared?”
Pure Wit is a biography of 17th century writer, philosopher, scientist, duchess and celebrity Margaret Cavendish, who, despite her extensive writing career and her truly radical works, has been largely forgotten. Francesca Peacock aims to give her the limelight she deserves and explores not just her life but her poems, novels, nonfiction and plays that challenged the world she lived in and posed truly unique ideas.
After listening to Peacock talk about Margaret on a podcast, I knew I wanted to learn more about this peculiar woman. When I came across this book, I immediately picked it up. It’s a great introduction to Margaret as a person but also to the timeperiod she lived in. Her works and her story cannot be separated from their historical context, as her experiences during the brutal Civil War, her over a decade long exile on the continent (she was a loyalist and escaped England as part of Queen Henrietta Maria’s court) and the Restoration impacted her writings immensely. Her works were full of militaristic metaphors and they can only be fully appreciated if you understand the devastation of the war she witnessed, escaped and lost family members in. Peacock also offers, through Margaret, a look into, for example, the gender norms, fashions, literary conventions and philosophical debates of the time.
I appreciated that Peacock didn’t attempt to sanitize Margaret in any way and embraced her as a complex individual. The Margaret she presents to the reader was both cripplingly shy and bombastic, known for her extravagant dress (gotta love the red nipple tassels she is said to have worn, in public, when enjoying some theater). She wrote extensively, angrily about marriage as a trap and a sort of slavehood for women while also being quite in love with her own husband, William Cavendish, despite the occasional qualms they had. She was a revolutionary thinker who highlighted women’s issues and challenged the norms of her time, but she was also a staunch royalist who believed in the divine right of kings. While Peacock does highlight Margaret as an example of early feminist thinking and writing (and one of the earliest women who wrote about sapphic desire), she also acknowledges that Margaret is a “difficult feminist” as she also attacks other women in her writings and is, as I mentioned before, a royalist which does complicate the image of her as this normbending radical. But she must absolutely be regarded as an early feminist thinker: she criticized the idea of marriage and motherhood as the only things women are fit for, wrote of female-led societies and female warriors, suggested lesbianism as an alternative to heterosexual relationships and proudly stood by her own work, publishing under her own name which was something women very rarely did at the time. And if they did, they definitely didn’t write about atoms, faeries, natural philosophy, matter, war, science and the like. Margaret also challenged fashion conventions, wearing, for example, extremely revealing clothes and masculine hats and vests. She even adopted male customs, such as bowing instead of curtsying, which I think is quite impressive. For all these reasons, she deserves to be part of the canon of feminist thinking.
There were aspects of Margaret’s story that I found strangely relatable, which reminded me, once again, that even though she lived a long time ago, she was a human just like me. Margaret suffered from bouts of depression and anxiety – or melancholia – throughout her life (same). She only found solace amongst her family (same) and later her husband, and it’s said she sometimes got so stressed about the idea of losing her most beloved sister, that she woke her up during the night to check if she was still alive (I have not woken anyone up to check, but I have checked if family members are definitely breathing as they sleep). There’s so much in Margaret’s story that can be difficult to understand, such as some of her philosophical theories, and it is easy to get lost in the myths about her infamy – moments like these, the idea of a girl fearing for her sister’s life so much that she checks the food she eats in case it is poisonous, remind you that Margaret was, for all her eccentricity and genius ideas, just a human.
I found many aspects of Margaret’s writing to be difficult to fathom, but that is not so much a case of her being utterly unintelligible (as many have claimed over the years) but of me just not having the brain capacity to really understand philosophy. But I did think her takes on gender, marriage and motherhood interesting, and I found her staunch belief that animals should be considered sentient beings just like humans, capable of emotion and cleverness, quite radical. Her royalism is difficult to digest sometimes. She was a daring writer in many ways – she openly challenged the scientific male thinkers of her time (like Hobbes and Descartes) in her works and wanted to debate them – but I found her teetering on the edge of atheism to be especially daring. It seems she did believe in God, but she rarely mentions him in her works, focusing more on a feminine Nature-figure. She also declared that many innocent women have been killed as witches and denied the idea of magic born out of pacts with Satan. It is no wonder that, after her death, there were some really cruel poems written about her soul being in Hell.
The only other figure who really shines in this book is Margaret's husband, William. He was an interesting man in many ways – he was a close ally of Henrietta Maria, a tutor to Charles II, a staunch royalist and a soldier who disgraced himself with a hideous defeat and by exiling himself to the continent. His lousy reputation didn't seem to matter to her – nor did him being 30 years older than her – and while to us their relationship might seem icky (she was around 20 when they married), there was true love and devotion there. Considering Margaret's really negative views on marriage, it seems unlikely she married out of anything other than strong love. And considering their rather intense love letters and poems and how Margaret saw him as a safe haven amidst her mental turmoils, they surely were in love. I had to respect him for seemingly having no issue at all with his wife's unconventional career (he helped her publish and introduced him to his and his brother's wide circle of literary friends) and for helping educate Margaret as well as his own daughters, who also wrote plays and poems. It's safe to say that he clearly didn't share the issues many men of his time had with educated, clever women who broke gender norms. He also clearly trusted Margaret, as he happily let her take control of running their household and all that comes with it (despite how much his kids hated this – they saw Margaret as a conniving wicked stepmom). And considering how important heirs were at the time and how motherhood was often seen as the sole purpose of wives, it must be appreciated that while William wanted more sons, his love for Margaret didn't lessen when it became evident she couldn't have them. It's a low bar, I know, but still you have to give William some credit. No credit should be given, though, for his rather cringey love poetry – it seems he was much better at drama, which he published. I also have to mention that I found the idea of William, Margaret and Charles, William's brother, living together in exile, reading books, doing science experiments and acting as patrons to other creatives and thinkers, to be quite sweet.
The final chapter, detailing how Margaret has been remembered and interpreted, made my blood boil. I knew she has been largely forgotten and that, if she is remembered, she is considered an oddball and slightly mad, but reading about the way she was made into this example of ideal wifehood (she would’ve just hated that) in the 18th century, declared the Mad Mage of Newcastle in the 19th century and depicted, in 1918, by Henry Ten Eyck Perry as this woman “dangerously far from sanity” (as proven by her writings) made me so, so angry. Even in 1979 it was claimed that The Blazing World, her most revolutionary piece of work, was a sign of her schizophrenia! All of that combined with how her works have been edited (“icky” stuff like mentions of bodily functions taken out alongside mentions of lesbian desire) and “fixed” by, mostly, men made me feel genuine anger for her. Her biggest goal in life was to be remembered and for her books to give her an “afterlife” – she would be appalled and heartbroken by how she has been remembered. Peacock, who herself does a monumental job of pulling away the myths and misogynistic narratives that surround Margaret, does end the book with a hopeful note: our understanding of her is changing, her books are being more appreciated and she is slowly being uncovered again. I like her ending the book saying we should take Margaret as she is, with all her flaws, rather than try and make a trope out of her. She is neither a raving madwoman or a morally pure feminist icon: she is more complex than that.
I am really happy I read this book and got to know Margaret Cavendish better. There's still much that I don't quite understand about her views of the world, but there's always time to learn more in the future. I would recommend this book happily for anyone interested in a) women's history, b) Civil War England and Restoration England history, c) history of feminism, and d) history of writers and philosophy.
Interesting facts I learned:
- Margaret was the first woman to visit the Royal Society.
- Margaret’s dad was also scandalous: he got a 13-year-old pregnant out of wedlock, killed a man in a duel, was exiled by Elizabeth I and pardoned by James I.
- Margaret’s family home was ransacked twice during the Civil War and on both occasions graves of her relatives were disturbed. Unfortunately this was not rare during the war. Her mom was imprisoned for a while and her brother executed by anti-monarchists.
- Charles I’s war base during the war was Oxford.
- William was Charles II’s tutor when he was the Prince of Wales.
- William’s oldest kid from his previous marriage was older than Margaret.
- One of William’s sons was told, by a doctor, to season his food with dried frog. This would, apparently, help cure his depression.
- Margaret went to London during their exile to petition the Parliament for some of William’s wealth. She was denied, though many other royalist wives who petitioned for their husbands got at least a fifth.
- Aemilia Lanyer’s Salve Deu Rex Judaeorum, published in 1611, was the first book of poetry published by an English woman.
- During her escape from England (Margaret was present), Henrietta Maria is said to have told the captain of her ship to blow their ship up if it seems they will be caught. A stone cold move and one that would’ve killed many more than just her, but it showcases the Queen’s dedication to her cause and husband.
- During the Civil War women did fight: as spies, as defenders against sieges and as cross-dressing soldiers. Charles I even planned a decree that would’ve made dressing up a as a man a grievous crime. His disgust towards crossdressing was most likely born out of his religiousness.
- Many writers circulated their work in manuscript form rather than publish because, in this way, it was easier to avoid censorship.
- Oliver Cromwell’s useless son and heir Richard was nicknamed “Tumbledown Dick” after failing to hold on to power.
- In The Blazing World, she writes herself into the story: she becomes the Empress’s scribe and they have a rather sapphic dynamic. Wild. The Blazing World is also the earliest published (1666) scifi story by a woman – sorry, Mary Shelley.
- During Margaret’s time, Shakespeare was not as revered as he is now. People edited his works – this one guy, Nahum Tate, even gave King Lear, in 1681, a happy ending.
- The marble monument at the Cavendishes grave portrays Margaret with a book and an inkpot in her hand.
- Margaret’s cause of death is unknown. She died, at 50, most likely of a very sudden illness – a stroke or a heartattack of some kind. William, already in his 80s, was too weak to attend the funeral, which is just all sorts of sad.
Pure Wit is a biography of 17th century writer, philosopher, scientist, duchess and celebrity Margaret Cavendish, who, despite her extensive writing career and her truly radical works, has been largely forgotten. Francesca Peacock aims to give her the limelight she deserves and explores not just her life but her poems, novels, nonfiction and plays that challenged the world she lived in and posed truly unique ideas.
After listening to Peacock talk about Margaret on a podcast, I knew I wanted to learn more about this peculiar woman. When I came across this book, I immediately picked it up. It’s a great introduction to Margaret as a person but also to the timeperiod she lived in. Her works and her story cannot be separated from their historical context, as her experiences during the brutal Civil War, her over a decade long exile on the continent (she was a loyalist and escaped England as part of Queen Henrietta Maria’s court) and the Restoration impacted her writings immensely. Her works were full of militaristic metaphors and they can only be fully appreciated if you understand the devastation of the war she witnessed, escaped and lost family members in. Peacock also offers, through Margaret, a look into, for example, the gender norms, fashions, literary conventions and philosophical debates of the time.
I appreciated that Peacock didn’t attempt to sanitize Margaret in any way and embraced her as a complex individual. The Margaret she presents to the reader was both cripplingly shy and bombastic, known for her extravagant dress (gotta love the red nipple tassels she is said to have worn, in public, when enjoying some theater). She wrote extensively, angrily about marriage as a trap and a sort of slavehood for women while also being quite in love with her own husband, William Cavendish, despite the occasional qualms they had. She was a revolutionary thinker who highlighted women’s issues and challenged the norms of her time, but she was also a staunch royalist who believed in the divine right of kings. While Peacock does highlight Margaret as an example of early feminist thinking and writing (and one of the earliest women who wrote about sapphic desire), she also acknowledges that Margaret is a “difficult feminist” as she also attacks other women in her writings and is, as I mentioned before, a royalist which does complicate the image of her as this normbending radical. But she must absolutely be regarded as an early feminist thinker: she criticized the idea of marriage and motherhood as the only things women are fit for, wrote of female-led societies and female warriors, suggested lesbianism as an alternative to heterosexual relationships and proudly stood by her own work, publishing under her own name which was something women very rarely did at the time. And if they did, they definitely didn’t write about atoms, faeries, natural philosophy, matter, war, science and the like. Margaret also challenged fashion conventions, wearing, for example, extremely revealing clothes and masculine hats and vests. She even adopted male customs, such as bowing instead of curtsying, which I think is quite impressive. For all these reasons, she deserves to be part of the canon of feminist thinking.
There were aspects of Margaret’s story that I found strangely relatable, which reminded me, once again, that even though she lived a long time ago, she was a human just like me. Margaret suffered from bouts of depression and anxiety – or melancholia – throughout her life (same). She only found solace amongst her family (same) and later her husband, and it’s said she sometimes got so stressed about the idea of losing her most beloved sister, that she woke her up during the night to check if she was still alive (I have not woken anyone up to check, but I have checked if family members are definitely breathing as they sleep). There’s so much in Margaret’s story that can be difficult to understand, such as some of her philosophical theories, and it is easy to get lost in the myths about her infamy – moments like these, the idea of a girl fearing for her sister’s life so much that she checks the food she eats in case it is poisonous, remind you that Margaret was, for all her eccentricity and genius ideas, just a human.
I found many aspects of Margaret’s writing to be difficult to fathom, but that is not so much a case of her being utterly unintelligible (as many have claimed over the years) but of me just not having the brain capacity to really understand philosophy. But I did think her takes on gender, marriage and motherhood interesting, and I found her staunch belief that animals should be considered sentient beings just like humans, capable of emotion and cleverness, quite radical. Her royalism is difficult to digest sometimes. She was a daring writer in many ways – she openly challenged the scientific male thinkers of her time (like Hobbes and Descartes) in her works and wanted to debate them – but I found her teetering on the edge of atheism to be especially daring. It seems she did believe in God, but she rarely mentions him in her works, focusing more on a feminine Nature-figure. She also declared that many innocent women have been killed as witches and denied the idea of magic born out of pacts with Satan. It is no wonder that, after her death, there were some really cruel poems written about her soul being in Hell.
The only other figure who really shines in this book is Margaret's husband, William. He was an interesting man in many ways – he was a close ally of Henrietta Maria, a tutor to Charles II, a staunch royalist and a soldier who disgraced himself with a hideous defeat and by exiling himself to the continent. His lousy reputation didn't seem to matter to her – nor did him being 30 years older than her – and while to us their relationship might seem icky (she was around 20 when they married), there was true love and devotion there. Considering Margaret's really negative views on marriage, it seems unlikely she married out of anything other than strong love. And considering their rather intense love letters and poems and how Margaret saw him as a safe haven amidst her mental turmoils, they surely were in love. I had to respect him for seemingly having no issue at all with his wife's unconventional career (he helped her publish and introduced him to his and his brother's wide circle of literary friends) and for helping educate Margaret as well as his own daughters, who also wrote plays and poems. It's safe to say that he clearly didn't share the issues many men of his time had with educated, clever women who broke gender norms. He also clearly trusted Margaret, as he happily let her take control of running their household and all that comes with it (despite how much his kids hated this – they saw Margaret as a conniving wicked stepmom). And considering how important heirs were at the time and how motherhood was often seen as the sole purpose of wives, it must be appreciated that while William wanted more sons, his love for Margaret didn't lessen when it became evident she couldn't have them. It's a low bar, I know, but still you have to give William some credit. No credit should be given, though, for his rather cringey love poetry – it seems he was much better at drama, which he published. I also have to mention that I found the idea of William, Margaret and Charles, William's brother, living together in exile, reading books, doing science experiments and acting as patrons to other creatives and thinkers, to be quite sweet.
The final chapter, detailing how Margaret has been remembered and interpreted, made my blood boil. I knew she has been largely forgotten and that, if she is remembered, she is considered an oddball and slightly mad, but reading about the way she was made into this example of ideal wifehood (she would’ve just hated that) in the 18th century, declared the Mad Mage of Newcastle in the 19th century and depicted, in 1918, by Henry Ten Eyck Perry as this woman “dangerously far from sanity” (as proven by her writings) made me so, so angry. Even in 1979 it was claimed that The Blazing World, her most revolutionary piece of work, was a sign of her schizophrenia! All of that combined with how her works have been edited (“icky” stuff like mentions of bodily functions taken out alongside mentions of lesbian desire) and “fixed” by, mostly, men made me feel genuine anger for her. Her biggest goal in life was to be remembered and for her books to give her an “afterlife” – she would be appalled and heartbroken by how she has been remembered. Peacock, who herself does a monumental job of pulling away the myths and misogynistic narratives that surround Margaret, does end the book with a hopeful note: our understanding of her is changing, her books are being more appreciated and she is slowly being uncovered again. I like her ending the book saying we should take Margaret as she is, with all her flaws, rather than try and make a trope out of her. She is neither a raving madwoman or a morally pure feminist icon: she is more complex than that.
I am really happy I read this book and got to know Margaret Cavendish better. There's still much that I don't quite understand about her views of the world, but there's always time to learn more in the future. I would recommend this book happily for anyone interested in a) women's history, b) Civil War England and Restoration England history, c) history of feminism, and d) history of writers and philosophy.
Interesting facts I learned:
- Margaret was the first woman to visit the Royal Society.
- Margaret’s dad was also scandalous: he got a 13-year-old pregnant out of wedlock, killed a man in a duel, was exiled by Elizabeth I and pardoned by James I.
- Margaret’s family home was ransacked twice during the Civil War and on both occasions graves of her relatives were disturbed. Unfortunately this was not rare during the war. Her mom was imprisoned for a while and her brother executed by anti-monarchists.
- Charles I’s war base during the war was Oxford.
- William was Charles II’s tutor when he was the Prince of Wales.
- William’s oldest kid from his previous marriage was older than Margaret.
- One of William’s sons was told, by a doctor, to season his food with dried frog. This would, apparently, help cure his depression.
- Margaret went to London during their exile to petition the Parliament for some of William’s wealth. She was denied, though many other royalist wives who petitioned for their husbands got at least a fifth.
- Aemilia Lanyer’s Salve Deu Rex Judaeorum, published in 1611, was the first book of poetry published by an English woman.
- During her escape from England (Margaret was present), Henrietta Maria is said to have told the captain of her ship to blow their ship up if it seems they will be caught. A stone cold move and one that would’ve killed many more than just her, but it showcases the Queen’s dedication to her cause and husband.
- During the Civil War women did fight: as spies, as defenders against sieges and as cross-dressing soldiers. Charles I even planned a decree that would’ve made dressing up a as a man a grievous crime. His disgust towards crossdressing was most likely born out of his religiousness.
- Many writers circulated their work in manuscript form rather than publish because, in this way, it was easier to avoid censorship.
- Oliver Cromwell’s useless son and heir Richard was nicknamed “Tumbledown Dick” after failing to hold on to power.
- In The Blazing World, she writes herself into the story: she becomes the Empress’s scribe and they have a rather sapphic dynamic. Wild. The Blazing World is also the earliest published (1666) scifi story by a woman – sorry, Mary Shelley.
- During Margaret’s time, Shakespeare was not as revered as he is now. People edited his works – this one guy, Nahum Tate, even gave King Lear, in 1681, a happy ending.
- The marble monument at the Cavendishes grave portrays Margaret with a book and an inkpot in her hand.
- Margaret’s cause of death is unknown. She died, at 50, most likely of a very sudden illness – a stroke or a heartattack of some kind. William, already in his 80s, was too weak to attend the funeral, which is just all sorts of sad.
February 25, 2024
Was excited to read this biography of Margaret Cavendish, a 17th century female poet, author, philosopher and scientist, proto-radical feminist and arguably the first female sci-fi writer but this book lost my interest due to the writing.
The author repeatedly and annoyingly uses a question to transition - stuff like "How did Margaret do this thing?" And then tells us how Margaret did the thing. Is there a more irritating writing device? For the purposes of this review, no, no there isn't.
Peacock isn't always clear on her point often wandering into comparisons of women authors before, during and after Cavendish's time and examining her prose in a subjective and speculative way that just gave me the snoozes.
Cavendish is a fascinating character but this book doesn't add a lot of new insight. It's okay but I wouldn't re-read.
The author repeatedly and annoyingly uses a question to transition - stuff like "How did Margaret do this thing?" And then tells us how Margaret did the thing. Is there a more irritating writing device? For the purposes of this review, no, no there isn't.
Peacock isn't always clear on her point often wandering into comparisons of women authors before, during and after Cavendish's time and examining her prose in a subjective and speculative way that just gave me the snoozes.
Cavendish is a fascinating character but this book doesn't add a lot of new insight. It's okay but I wouldn't re-read.
Read
February 26, 2024No rating because I made this a DNF about 1/2 the way through. Too circular and the writing is just plain poor in continuity and in core connection to the title.
I did like the photo section. You may want to try it if you understand and jibe with this era and placement. But even then you might not concur with the voice or the tangents.
I did like the photo section. You may want to try it if you understand and jibe with this era and placement. But even then you might not concur with the voice or the tangents.
June 18, 2025
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!
(Note: I read an ARC copy of this book in courtesy of Netgalley.)
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!
(Note: I read an ARC copy of this book in courtesy of Netgalley.)
June 26, 2025
I first came across Margaret Cavendish in 2019 when we read The Convent of Pleasure at University. It was the first year they'd done a work by Margaret, in fact, it was the first year they'd dedicated a week to women's writing in my Early Modern English lit class. I chose not to pursue the Early Modern Era, but I never forget Margaret (although I never read any more by her). Fastforward to my resMA degree this year and she's mentioned again in relation to Constantijn Huygens. My professor even taught us that we may have Cavendish's thumbprint in the library! I suddenly became obsessed with her and on a trip to Utrecht, I came across this book (which was positioned opposite that same professor's book!). I had to buy it, but waited until the semester was over to read it. In the mean time, I found the Blazing World in another bookshop which will be my next read. I really enjoyed Pure Wit, I learned so much about Margaret and also about the period I chose not to study but do nevertheless enjoy. I didn't like the constant references to future literary greats (Woolf, Brontë, etc.). They did somewhat come together in the final chapter, but overall this analogy fell flat and that's why it's a four star read for me. It just felt like the author wanted to prove that she is a big bookworm, which I had no doubts about to begin with. One thing I LOVE and that added another big coincidence to the list, is the connection to Christine de Pizan as I've just written a research paper on her! Literally, this month! Cavendish is definitely my current obsession haha
March 16, 2025
I didn’t finish this book because the writing was so poor! The author kept using quotations “like this” when they really “didn’t need” too and could have paraphrased. It was really annoying to read. Also the amount of times they used a phrase such as “not only did cavendish yada yada yada” or “but this was not the only things cavendish bla bla” and similar versions of that drove me mad. Like it was every couple of paragraphs… reading other reviews looks like I’m not the only one with complaints, and I don’t know much about her, but it seems this is not the best book to read on Cavendish. Also there was so much on other random people?? Like I understand explaining the way the societal expectations were at the time but the author would seemingly randomly jump into big explanations of other people’s lives and I came here to learn about Cavendish?? Anyway I got like 18% in before I ditched 😅😅
October 3, 2023
Born into aristocracy in 1623, Margaret Cavendish defied societal norms by writing extensively on gender, science, and philosophy under her own name during a turbulent period of English history. After joining Queen Henrietta Maria's court during the English Civil War, she endured exile in France and formed a lasting partnership with William Cavendish, Marquess of Newcastle-upon-Tyne. Her magnum opus, "The Blazing World," published in 1666, is considered an early work of science fiction. In "Pure Wit," Francesca Peacock sheds light on the captivating and pioneering life of Margaret Cavendish, a brilliant proto-feminist whose legacy remains a subject of debate and often overshadowed by history.
When I first saw this, I was interested to learn more about what the first science fiction could be. I was also intrigued to know more about this writer, since I had never heard of her before. However, to be honest, I hadn’t heard of many of the comparison writers the author included.
I was expecting more of a biography about her life, but what this felt like was more of a discussion about Margaret Cavendish’s philosophy, which I have little interest in. While the events of Margaret Cavendish’s early life inspire sympathy, I didn’t find much to admire about much of her life, with her outlandish dress (putting her breasts on display) and declaring herself a princess. I found myself slogging through most of this book.
Clearly, I was not the intended reader for this book. Others may find it more interesting than I did.
I was given an advance copy through NetGalley for reviewing purposes. All opinions expressed are my own.
When I first saw this, I was interested to learn more about what the first science fiction could be. I was also intrigued to know more about this writer, since I had never heard of her before. However, to be honest, I hadn’t heard of many of the comparison writers the author included.
I was expecting more of a biography about her life, but what this felt like was more of a discussion about Margaret Cavendish’s philosophy, which I have little interest in. While the events of Margaret Cavendish’s early life inspire sympathy, I didn’t find much to admire about much of her life, with her outlandish dress (putting her breasts on display) and declaring herself a princess. I found myself slogging through most of this book.
Clearly, I was not the intended reader for this book. Others may find it more interesting than I did.
I was given an advance copy through NetGalley for reviewing purposes. All opinions expressed are my own.
September 19, 2023
Francesca Peacock’s Pure Wit: The Revolutionary Life of Margaret Cavendish covers not just the life of Cavendish, Duchess of Newcastle, (1623-73), but also discusses her books and philosophy. Peacock insists that Cavendish was really shy; and that’s why she was such an extrovert. However, I am unconvinced that we can apply the adjective “shy” to anyone who went to the theatre in 1667 wearing such a low-cut dress that her breasts (“with scarlet-trimmed nipples”) were “all laid out to view”. Before that, Samuel Pepys had written “The whole story of this lady is a romance, and all she do is romantic”. However, after he met her at the Royal Society, he stated that he “did not like her at all.” Virginia Woolf wrote, almost four hundred years later, “the crazy Duchess became a bogey to frighten clever girls with.” Subsequent biographers, such as Mark Lower and Katie Whitaker, have christened her “Mad Madge”. Peacock vehemently rejects that nickname and tries to persuade us that Cavendish was simply unappreciated and denigrated by the patriarchy.
Margaret Lucas was twenty-two when she met William Cavendish, the Duke of Newcastle, who was thirty years older than her. It was definitely a love match – it appears he was besotted with her. Although they were not Catholics, they supported the Royalist cause and thus went into exile overseas with the Carolingian court. William had been Charles II’s tutor and Margaret was a lady-in-waiting to his queen, Henrietta Maria.
The book does a good job of showing us Margaret Cavendish’s heart-breaking life prior to Charles II’s restoration. The Civil War was brutal. In 1648, the Roundheads laying siege to Colchester broke open the vault of St John’s Abbey; cut off the hair of Margaret’s recently deceased mother and sister; and pranced around, using the hair as wigs, before scattering the bones of other decomposed ancestors. Margaret’s brother, Sir Charles Lucas, was shot by the Roundheads when the siege ended. However, the author is very keen to discuss Cavendish’s philosophy, as evidenced in the books she wrote in exile and after her return to England. Although this is a biography of Cavendish, in that we’re given her life story, a significant part of the book discusses her literary work – and part of that delves quite deeply into her philosophy. I confess that I’m not really interested in Cavendish’s views about the relationship between God and Nature and the types of matter, especially as Cavendish’s views appear to have changed direction as easily as a weathercock.
I scribbled “It seems a bit all over the place” and “Why not chronological order?” but I also noted, “There is a good mixture of analysis, discussing female authors; their reasons for writing and publishing (and Peacock does an excellent job of explaining why the two were different); and the narrative about Margaret. And so, do I recommend this book? The biographical material doesn’t appear to add much beyond Katie Whitaker’s 2003 book. Peacock is obviously on a mission: to espouse Cavendish as a philosopher on a par with Locke and Spinoza, but ignored because she was female; and to position her as a great C17th writer. I admire her devotion to Cavendish but I’m afraid I am not persuaded of Cavendish’s superiority in any field. However, read the book for yourself; learn about an undoubtedly unique, confident, woman; get an insight into some robust C17th philosophical debates; and decide whether Margaret was misunderstood, maligned and denigrated because she was a woman; or whether she was a trail-blazing, brilliant, shooting star who burned out far too early. Cavendish wrote, “All I desire is fame, and fame is nothing but a great noise” - Peacock succeeds in ensuring there will be a fresh debate about Margaret Cavendish, 350 years after she died. I’m sure Margaret would be delighted.
#PureWit #NetGalley
Margaret Lucas was twenty-two when she met William Cavendish, the Duke of Newcastle, who was thirty years older than her. It was definitely a love match – it appears he was besotted with her. Although they were not Catholics, they supported the Royalist cause and thus went into exile overseas with the Carolingian court. William had been Charles II’s tutor and Margaret was a lady-in-waiting to his queen, Henrietta Maria.
The book does a good job of showing us Margaret Cavendish’s heart-breaking life prior to Charles II’s restoration. The Civil War was brutal. In 1648, the Roundheads laying siege to Colchester broke open the vault of St John’s Abbey; cut off the hair of Margaret’s recently deceased mother and sister; and pranced around, using the hair as wigs, before scattering the bones of other decomposed ancestors. Margaret’s brother, Sir Charles Lucas, was shot by the Roundheads when the siege ended. However, the author is very keen to discuss Cavendish’s philosophy, as evidenced in the books she wrote in exile and after her return to England. Although this is a biography of Cavendish, in that we’re given her life story, a significant part of the book discusses her literary work – and part of that delves quite deeply into her philosophy. I confess that I’m not really interested in Cavendish’s views about the relationship between God and Nature and the types of matter, especially as Cavendish’s views appear to have changed direction as easily as a weathercock.
I scribbled “It seems a bit all over the place” and “Why not chronological order?” but I also noted, “There is a good mixture of analysis, discussing female authors; their reasons for writing and publishing (and Peacock does an excellent job of explaining why the two were different); and the narrative about Margaret. And so, do I recommend this book? The biographical material doesn’t appear to add much beyond Katie Whitaker’s 2003 book. Peacock is obviously on a mission: to espouse Cavendish as a philosopher on a par with Locke and Spinoza, but ignored because she was female; and to position her as a great C17th writer. I admire her devotion to Cavendish but I’m afraid I am not persuaded of Cavendish’s superiority in any field. However, read the book for yourself; learn about an undoubtedly unique, confident, woman; get an insight into some robust C17th philosophical debates; and decide whether Margaret was misunderstood, maligned and denigrated because she was a woman; or whether she was a trail-blazing, brilliant, shooting star who burned out far too early. Cavendish wrote, “All I desire is fame, and fame is nothing but a great noise” - Peacock succeeds in ensuring there will be a fresh debate about Margaret Cavendish, 350 years after she died. I’m sure Margaret would be delighted.
#PureWit #NetGalley
May 14, 2023
In Francesca Peacock's "Pure Wit," she sets out to give Margaret Cavendish (Duchess of Newcastle) her proper due as a writer, philosopher and ancestor to later feminist writers. (Peacock points out that "feminist" would not be a term used in the seventeenth century). Peacock connects Cavendish to the chaotic political shenanigans of the seventeenth century because a significant portion of Margaret Cavendish's life was spent dealing with the upheaval between Charles I's execution, the interregnum, and the restoration of Charles II. She points out that Cavendish and her husband William were financially wiped out by their support for the Royalist cause.
A good deal of Cavendish's most well-known work was done during this time so Peacock astutely connects the Cavendish's fortunes with the perilous political fighting of her day. Unlike other biographers or English lit scholars, Peacock does not remove Cavendish from her time. She makes sure that we understand the world Cavendish lived, loved and wrote in. She rescues Margaret Cavendish from the misbegotten idea that somehow she was just a silly or mentally unbalanced woman who wrote poems
Peacock writes in a precise manner that puts Cavendish at the forefront. She goes through all of Cavendish's work to show the talent, the intelligence, the contradictions, the confusions, the classism, etc. Peacock does an excellent job of quoting Cavendish's work, and contrasting it with the criticism, or of how she was edited after her death. It's an enlightening way of approaching Cavendish's writing because she shows how much Cavendish had to fight to be taken seriously.
Even today, the idea of the neurotic Margaret Cavendish persists. Francesca Peacock does not paint Cavendish as a saint, but as a multifaceted woman with an extraordinary gift for writing and self-promotion. Peacock treats Cavendish with the respect and understanding she deserves. The biography made me want to read and reread Margaret Cavendish's work, and that's the mark of a first-rate biographer.
A good deal of Cavendish's most well-known work was done during this time so Peacock astutely connects the Cavendish's fortunes with the perilous political fighting of her day. Unlike other biographers or English lit scholars, Peacock does not remove Cavendish from her time. She makes sure that we understand the world Cavendish lived, loved and wrote in. She rescues Margaret Cavendish from the misbegotten idea that somehow she was just a silly or mentally unbalanced woman who wrote poems
Peacock writes in a precise manner that puts Cavendish at the forefront. She goes through all of Cavendish's work to show the talent, the intelligence, the contradictions, the confusions, the classism, etc. Peacock does an excellent job of quoting Cavendish's work, and contrasting it with the criticism, or of how she was edited after her death. It's an enlightening way of approaching Cavendish's writing because she shows how much Cavendish had to fight to be taken seriously.
Even today, the idea of the neurotic Margaret Cavendish persists. Francesca Peacock does not paint Cavendish as a saint, but as a multifaceted woman with an extraordinary gift for writing and self-promotion. Peacock treats Cavendish with the respect and understanding she deserves. The biography made me want to read and reread Margaret Cavendish's work, and that's the mark of a first-rate biographer.
July 30, 2023
Published in the UK on the 14th Sept. Grateful to NetGalley for access to an advanced copy.
I went in to this book expecting to read about a 17th century Kim Kardashian. It didn't disappoint, for Margaret Cavendish was just as polarising a figure in her time. A sadly familiar story of a woman's efforts to be taken seriously in a society determined to devalue her achievements and mock her fashion choices.
Francesca Peacock delves deep in Cavendish's writings to find her, searching for clues even in her handwriting. Much of her life was re-told within her work, it presents her version of events and much can be gleaned (and is artfully explored by Peacock) by events she omitted.
There are the stories of other women here too- the defiant Queen Henrietta Maria- who Cavendish journeyed to serve. The women who found their courage in the midst of civil war from the Bristolian women ready to stand strong against Prince Rupert, to the Countess who refused to surrender her home to the sieging forces. Even the few tales (though much concerned about) women who crossed dressed themselves in to military ranks like the heroines of folk songs.
The book explores her influence on other feminist writers such as Mary Astell and her parallel beliefs with 20th century women's movements. Cavendish is not the perfect feminist and the book doesn't shy away from showing her nuance and contradictions. Should she be of our time now she would make an excellent guest on The Guilty Feminist pod (I'm a feminist but "it is against nature for a woman to spell right").
I could go on an on about the revelations in this book (special mention to Lady Eleanor Butler and The Hon. Sarah Ponsonby who ran off to north Wales and named all their dogs Sapho) but the review will go on forever.
It's brilliant, I loved it, go read it.
I went in to this book expecting to read about a 17th century Kim Kardashian. It didn't disappoint, for Margaret Cavendish was just as polarising a figure in her time. A sadly familiar story of a woman's efforts to be taken seriously in a society determined to devalue her achievements and mock her fashion choices.
Francesca Peacock delves deep in Cavendish's writings to find her, searching for clues even in her handwriting. Much of her life was re-told within her work, it presents her version of events and much can be gleaned (and is artfully explored by Peacock) by events she omitted.
There are the stories of other women here too- the defiant Queen Henrietta Maria- who Cavendish journeyed to serve. The women who found their courage in the midst of civil war from the Bristolian women ready to stand strong against Prince Rupert, to the Countess who refused to surrender her home to the sieging forces. Even the few tales (though much concerned about) women who crossed dressed themselves in to military ranks like the heroines of folk songs.
The book explores her influence on other feminist writers such as Mary Astell and her parallel beliefs with 20th century women's movements. Cavendish is not the perfect feminist and the book doesn't shy away from showing her nuance and contradictions. Should she be of our time now she would make an excellent guest on The Guilty Feminist pod (I'm a feminist but "it is against nature for a woman to spell right").
I could go on an on about the revelations in this book (special mention to Lady Eleanor Butler and The Hon. Sarah Ponsonby who ran off to north Wales and named all their dogs Sapho) but the review will go on forever.
It's brilliant, I loved it, go read it.
April 21, 2024
I checked this book out of my library.
Brief Summary: This book focuses on the literary contributions of Cavendish and their wider impact on the literary world. Although not the focus of the book Cavendish's life is also examined at various points throughout the book.
Thoughts: I learned quite a bit about Margaret Cavendish's life from this book. I have only encountered her briefly in other books and was interested in diving into a book focused on her life and works. That being said, while I learned things from this book, I did not enjoy it.
Peacock's writing style was fine and overall the book was easy to follow in terms of timeline and cast of characters. However, there was so much discussion about the other significant writers of the period that half the time it did not even feel like I was reading a book about Cavendish.
When a discussion about Cavendish's works was focused on in the book it made me more interested in the book as I have no real foreknowledge of her works. The examination of what was novel about Cavendish's works for the period was interesting as it provided insight into who Cavendish was as a person and what was motivating her to write. I do wish that more of Cavendish's biography had been included in the text to highlight these aspects as the biography often felt disjointed from the discussion of the work she was producing.
Overall, I found this book interesting, but I don't think that it was what I was hoping to get out of a book about Cavendish. I was a little more interested in a biographical perspective of her life and this was a little more literary criticism/examination.
Content Warnings
Graphic description: Infertility, Misogyny, Sexism, Mental illness, and Classism
Minor description: Pandemic/Epidemic and War
Brief Summary: This book focuses on the literary contributions of Cavendish and their wider impact on the literary world. Although not the focus of the book Cavendish's life is also examined at various points throughout the book.
Thoughts: I learned quite a bit about Margaret Cavendish's life from this book. I have only encountered her briefly in other books and was interested in diving into a book focused on her life and works. That being said, while I learned things from this book, I did not enjoy it.
Peacock's writing style was fine and overall the book was easy to follow in terms of timeline and cast of characters. However, there was so much discussion about the other significant writers of the period that half the time it did not even feel like I was reading a book about Cavendish.
When a discussion about Cavendish's works was focused on in the book it made me more interested in the book as I have no real foreknowledge of her works. The examination of what was novel about Cavendish's works for the period was interesting as it provided insight into who Cavendish was as a person and what was motivating her to write. I do wish that more of Cavendish's biography had been included in the text to highlight these aspects as the biography often felt disjointed from the discussion of the work she was producing.
Overall, I found this book interesting, but I don't think that it was what I was hoping to get out of a book about Cavendish. I was a little more interested in a biographical perspective of her life and this was a little more literary criticism/examination.
Content Warnings
Graphic description: Infertility, Misogyny, Sexism, Mental illness, and Classism
Minor description: Pandemic/Epidemic and War
January 12, 2025
“But the insistence that "the scene is poetry" is also something else: Cavendish is writing about her life, but she does not want her readers to forget that she is a writer, rather than just the woman to whom these dramatic experiences occurred. Her status as a poet was sacrosanct.” Since I first heard that Francesca Peacock was bringing out a book about one of my favourite writers, it has been my most anticipated book of 2023 — having luckily received a proof copy, I can confirm that Pure Wit: The Revolutionary Life of Margaret Cavendish is an exemplary and endlessly engaging biography of a writer who so resists classification and easy narrativity. Not only does Peacock use Cavendish’s writing and correspondence, along with that of her peers, her relations, her enemies and her admirers, to craft a thorough, vivid account of Cavendish’s life, she also pays close and rewarding attention to the literary aspects of plays, poems, essays and more, offering close readings and a study that takes Cavendish seriously and refuses to follow the historical tendency of apologia, which first began with Cavendish herself, continuing to this day. There is much to love about Cavendish: her experience of the Civil War and Interregnum and Restoration; her antipathy towards marriage in contrast to the happy marriage she entered into; her career as a writer; her writing itself, its total originality and undaunted scope. All of this is rendered so captivatingly by Peacock, who blends excellent scholarship and research with the kind of narrative flair that Cavendish herself would be thrilled with. Margaret may yet have the lasting Fame she so wanted and deserved!
February 22, 2024
A colloquial, almost casual, gushy biography of Margaret Cavendish, a very interesting writer and persona from the seventeenth century who deserves more widespread fame.
The style irritated me at first, with its breathy tone and self-consciously irreverent vocabulary (referencing "bitchy" women, for instance) and its chapters guided by ingenuous questions like "How can Cavendish's theory of free will be reconciled with self-moving matter, the world as a 'plenum,' and material, sentient Nature?" However, I thawed as I considered how gushy Margaret's own style is and how past biographies have been academic rather than popular. Margaret deserves more widespread recognition - maybe having someone young and hip to explain and defend her is actually what is needed.
Francesca Peacock launches a passionate defense that I am on board with. Among other tidbits she offers is an argument for considering Margaret a feminist (rather than a "proto-feminist" or some other hedge) and an argument for the possibility that Margaret may have been the first English woman professional writer (that is, the tantalizing possibility that she wrote for money, at least at first). She presents evidence that Margaret's marriage was not necessarily as perfect as it has traditionally been considered. She draws from a variety of cultural nooks and crannies to contextualize Margaret's life and thought in a compelling way. I don't think there's much new here for people who have read other biographies, but for a popular audience who are encountering Margaret for the first time, it's quite effective.
The style irritated me at first, with its breathy tone and self-consciously irreverent vocabulary (referencing "bitchy" women, for instance) and its chapters guided by ingenuous questions like "How can Cavendish's theory of free will be reconciled with self-moving matter, the world as a 'plenum,' and material, sentient Nature?" However, I thawed as I considered how gushy Margaret's own style is and how past biographies have been academic rather than popular. Margaret deserves more widespread recognition - maybe having someone young and hip to explain and defend her is actually what is needed.
Francesca Peacock launches a passionate defense that I am on board with. Among other tidbits she offers is an argument for considering Margaret a feminist (rather than a "proto-feminist" or some other hedge) and an argument for the possibility that Margaret may have been the first English woman professional writer (that is, the tantalizing possibility that she wrote for money, at least at first). She presents evidence that Margaret's marriage was not necessarily as perfect as it has traditionally been considered. She draws from a variety of cultural nooks and crannies to contextualize Margaret's life and thought in a compelling way. I don't think there's much new here for people who have read other biographies, but for a popular audience who are encountering Margaret for the first time, it's quite effective.
March 11, 2024
A truly fearless trailblazer, Margaret Cavendish, Duchess of Newcastle, wrote everything from feminist plays and poems to scientific and philosophical treatises in the mid 17th century. She was as outrageous in her dress as she was in her bold (though often startlingly accurate) ideas, and more needs to be written about her. Dismissed throughout the centuries as "eccentric" and "mad", Pure Wit does an outstanding job as instead presenting Cavendish as a forward-thinking, perceptive and intelligent writer.
Author Francesca Peacock is thorough in her writing, almost to the point of digressing a little too much - if Civil War history is not your thing (it's not mine, I don't know why I find it so dull but I do), you may find yourself skipping paragraphs in order to get back to the pieces about Margaret herself.
Honestly, Margaret gave no fucks about the establishment or anyone in it (as a Duchess, she of course had a privilege here very few could access) and had absolutely no qualms about taking the male scientists and philosphers of the day to pieces.
I loved these parts of Pure Wit, and the discussion about earlier feminist writers who probably influenced Cavendish, and inked ideas we'd consider extremely modern. It's almost like women have always argued for their own independence and status but have been shut down or shut up by the self-indulgent writings of their male counterparts! Whod've thunk it?! 😅
Author Francesca Peacock is thorough in her writing, almost to the point of digressing a little too much - if Civil War history is not your thing (it's not mine, I don't know why I find it so dull but I do), you may find yourself skipping paragraphs in order to get back to the pieces about Margaret herself.
Honestly, Margaret gave no fucks about the establishment or anyone in it (as a Duchess, she of course had a privilege here very few could access) and had absolutely no qualms about taking the male scientists and philosphers of the day to pieces.
I loved these parts of Pure Wit, and the discussion about earlier feminist writers who probably influenced Cavendish, and inked ideas we'd consider extremely modern. It's almost like women have always argued for their own independence and status but have been shut down or shut up by the self-indulgent writings of their male counterparts! Whod've thunk it?! 😅
March 11, 2024
I read Margaret Cavendish's The Blazing World, originally published in 1666, for my qualifying exams about...17 years ago (OMG), and I remember it being strange and fascinating. The female protagonist gets lost in a storm at sea only to enter a new world, where she becomes an empress and begins taking inventory of all she sees. She seeks a scribe to write her observations down, and she settles on...the author, Margaret Cavendish. The book was early science fiction, a parody of the Royal Society, and a meta-fiction where the protagonist meets a version of the author. It was weird and wonderful. After reading it, I was curious about Cavendish herself, but it was difficult to learn much--even by the early 2000s, not many scholars had seriously written about her.
This book, part biography and part literary criticism, helped me understand Cavendish's life and evolving philosophy. I learned more about the economic and political plights of Royalists like Cavendish during the Interregnum, about the economics of early modern publications, about Cavendish's famed visit to the Royal Society, and about Cavendish's changing understanding of matter and nature. It is difficult to encapsulate Cavendish's life and writing in a single volume, and Peacock is excellent at pointing to clear themes. It took me a while to get through, but overall it was a joy to revisit this strange era in British history and Cavendish's important role in it.
This book, part biography and part literary criticism, helped me understand Cavendish's life and evolving philosophy. I learned more about the economic and political plights of Royalists like Cavendish during the Interregnum, about the economics of early modern publications, about Cavendish's famed visit to the Royal Society, and about Cavendish's changing understanding of matter and nature. It is difficult to encapsulate Cavendish's life and writing in a single volume, and Peacock is excellent at pointing to clear themes. It took me a while to get through, but overall it was a joy to revisit this strange era in British history and Cavendish's important role in it.
January 23, 2024
I’ve been hearing a lot about Margaret Cavendish just lately. She’s obvious “trending”. So I was delighted to read this comprehensive and well-researched biography of her. She was a remarkable woman, especially for her time, being born in 1623 and growing up to experience both the Civil War and the Restoration. An eccentric by anyone’s standards, she was above all a writer, and this at a time when very few women wrote, or were even literate. And she wrote about everything that came to her attention, including penning what has become to be considered the first science fiction novel, The Blazing World. The biography explores not just Margaret’s life and works, although it does this fully, but also places her in her time and place and discusses the history, society, the politics and culture and the natural philosophy ideas and concepts that Margaret was involved in. The style is lively and accessible and I very much enjoyed it.
May 30, 2024
Very interesting and well written historical novel - many humorous moments in her life.
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 much older partner, William Cavendish, Marquess of Newcastle-upon-Tyne, a marriage that would remain at the heart of both her life and career.
Cavendish 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.
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 much older partner, William Cavendish, Marquess of Newcastle-upon-Tyne, a marriage that would remain at the heart of both her life and career.
Cavendish 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.
February 26, 2024
An engaging and readable account of a unique personality who made a splash in 17th century England. She was a writer, poet and eccentric. Not a particularly appealing person, but there is lots of information about the general timeframe that I am happy to have learned.
Since Margaret Cavendish resisted the established roles of women at that time, and since she was prolific writer, the author must contend with the question of whether she was a proto-feminist or not. It's a hard question to answer from a 21st century perspective since Cavendish (as was pointed out repeatedly) was an ardent royalist who believed in a stratified society.
Since Margaret Cavendish resisted the established roles of women at that time, and since she was prolific writer, the author must contend with the question of whether she was a proto-feminist or not. It's a hard question to answer from a 21st century perspective since Cavendish (as was pointed out repeatedly) was an ardent royalist who believed in a stratified society.
August 15, 2024
I had never heard of Margaret Cavendish until a few months ago, when the author was on a podcast episode about her, so I was excited to get into this. And I thought the book was really well done!
I don't think the use of revolutionary is the most accurate or relevant (because she was a royalist during the English Civil War), but she was a complicated woman publishing under her own name and it was really interesting to hear her life and work being taken seriously. Plus, I don't know anything about the time period she lived in, and I thought the author did a great job of explaining the world that Margaret lived in.
I don't think the use of revolutionary is the most accurate or relevant (because she was a royalist during the English Civil War), but she was a complicated woman publishing under her own name and it was really interesting to hear her life and work being taken seriously. Plus, I don't know anything about the time period she lived in, and I thought the author did a great job of explaining the world that Margaret lived in.
January 23, 2025
I heard Francesca Peacock talking about her book Pure Wit on the radio last year and before this, I had never ever heard of Margaret Cavendish.
Margaret Cavendish was one of England's first female authors. She was a philosopher, a fashion icon, a celebrity, a maverick and she published some of the very first written glimpses into modern Feminism during the 17th century.
Pure wit is a really good, engaging & fun-to-read introduction to the world of MC and has definitely whet my appetite to discover more.
Margaret Cavendish was one of England's first female authors. She was a philosopher, a fashion icon, a celebrity, a maverick and she published some of the very first written glimpses into modern Feminism during the 17th century.
Pure wit is a really good, engaging & fun-to-read introduction to the world of MC and has definitely whet my appetite to discover more.
January 10, 2024
An interesting exploration of a most unique 17th century woman, Margaret Cavendish - eccentric, passionate writer of science, gender and philosophy based books. She was controversial in her time and in reviews of her work after her death at age 50. The author does a great job of putting her writings and eccentricities in context for the time and place. Her style is not academic, although well-researched, and so makes for a lively read appropriate for this individual.
January 17, 2025
Peacock neither glosses over Cavendish's flaws nor indulges in the sensationalism that has often surrounded her. Instead, she shows readers a complex person who lived in tumultuous times, and demonstrates her importance to those times and later developments. I would highly recommend Pure Wit to readers interested in either feminist or literary history.
-Katharine Blatchford
Read the full review at: https://www.bookbrowse.com/mag/review...
-Katharine Blatchford
Read the full review at: https://www.bookbrowse.com/mag/review...
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November 24, 2023This was chosen by Nandini Das, author of Courting India: England, Mughal India and the Origins of Empire (Bloomsbury), as one of History Today’s Books of the Year 2023.
Find out why at HistoryToday.com.
Find out why at HistoryToday.com.
June 1, 2024
This book tries to be so many things - a synopsis of the English Civil War, a traditional biography, a work of literary analysis, and a retrospective of scholarship on Cavendish - that it ultimately becomes confusing. Not even Margaret's period-inappropriate nipple tassels could make me give this a higher rating.
September 21, 2023
1/5 ⭐️ - I am interested in reading some writings by Margaret Cavendish, but for this author Franseca Peacock, I didn't like some of the areas she dove in to. I felt she could have given the basics without the detail. Too much info for me, so I lost interest after that.
October 3, 2023
I am as I am, MARGARET NEWCASTLE
Ah, a woman after my own heart. A women unafraid to speak her mind and to be herself at the risk of being ridiculed and put down by society. But also a woman courageous enough to better herself, to learn new things and to change her opinions when she had new proof, new information. And not to mentioned she did all this at a time where it was not so easy, no matter how privileged you were, to be different.
I really loved Francesca Peacock's portrait of Margaret Cavendish. I felt she has tried to present us with all her sides, all her contradictions, to show to us a complex woman who has develop across the years. But Peacock also made sense of the historical scene, which added an extra layer to this biography, helping the reader to understand the background and also to place Cavendish in the larger image of Britain in the 17th century.
*Book from NetGalley with many thanks to the publisher for the opportunity!
Ah, a woman after my own heart. A women unafraid to speak her mind and to be herself at the risk of being ridiculed and put down by society. But also a woman courageous enough to better herself, to learn new things and to change her opinions when she had new proof, new information. And not to mentioned she did all this at a time where it was not so easy, no matter how privileged you were, to be different.
I really loved Francesca Peacock's portrait of Margaret Cavendish. I felt she has tried to present us with all her sides, all her contradictions, to show to us a complex woman who has develop across the years. But Peacock also made sense of the historical scene, which added an extra layer to this biography, helping the reader to understand the background and also to place Cavendish in the larger image of Britain in the 17th century.
*Book from NetGalley with many thanks to the publisher for the opportunity!
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