The Blazing World and Other Writings: The Contract and Assaulted and Pursued Chastity (from 'Nature's Pictures'(1656); the Des, Margaret Cavendish, Penguin Books, Limited, , . .
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Both 'The Contract' and 'Assaulted and Pursued Chastity' (from Nature's Pictures, 1656) are romances which play out the empowering possibilities of disguise or masking for women. The centrepiece of this collection is 'The Blazing World', the only known Utopian fiction by a seventeenth century woman writer, an inventive and extravagant portrayal of the rise of a woman to absolute power.
Margaret Lucas Cavendish Duchess of Newcastle (1623-73), was the youngest and minimally educated child of a wealthy Essex family. In 1643, the year after the outbreak of the English Civil War, she became a Maid of Honour to Queen Henrietta Maria, travelling with her into Parisian exile in 1644. There, in 1645, she married the widowed William Cavendish, Marquis (later Duke) of Newcastle (1593-1676), who had been commander of Charles I's forces in the north, and a well-known patron of arts and letters. The Newcastles lived lavishly on credit in Antwerp from 1648 until the Restoration allowed their return to England in 1660. Between 1653 and 1668 Margaret Cavendish published a dozen substantial books including poetry, moral tales, speculative fiction, romance, scientific treatises, natural philosophy, familiar letters, closet drama, orations, an autobiographical memoir and a biography of her husband. The sheer quantity and variety of Cavendish's published writing was unprecedented amongst earlier English women. These publications, and her cultivation of personal singularity, made her an infamous figure both in her own lifetime and since, subverting patriarchal codes of feminiity while championing the legitimacy of monarchy. She appears in theatrical cameos in the writings of contemporaries like Pepys and Dorothy Osborne, and in subsequent accounts of maverick women by such writers as Charles Lamb and Virginia Woolf. Through her generically experimental and diverse writings, Margaret Cavendish emerges as an ironically self-designated spectacle, and as the self-proclaimed producer of hybrid creation and inimitable discourses, which are finally beginning to receive the attention that her life has rarely lacked.
Margaret Cavendish was the first woman to publish prolifically under her own name, but has been largely forgotten until very recently, with certain of her works coming back in to print for almost the first time since their release in the 17th century. Among them is The Blazing World, one of the most diverse works I have ever read, especially from a 17th century writer. Cavendish throws in practically every genre of her day into one book (barring drama and poetry), making for a unique read. Adventure/sci fi blends into a scientific Utopia a la Francis Bacon's New Atlantis, and moves further into classical and modern philosophy before finally returning to adventure/fantasy, and even autobiography as the author introduces herself as a character. Some of these concepts work better than others, with the more scientific sections being quite tedious at times (again a la Bacon), but also makes for interesting combinations, as she explores Neo Platonism in a fantasy context, with the souls of "Platonic friends" travelling freely of their bodies to visit friends in other worlds, a la Obi Wan Kenobi in The Empire Strikes Back. Most of Cavendish's ideas on their own are not particularly original, but come together in entertaining ways in this book. Perhaps the concept that worked best here is the overall theme of writing as wish fulfillment, as Cavendish creates a world where her personal wishes and fantasies come true in a light hearted way. This is the earliest novel in which I have felt a great sense of the author looking back out at the reader in a Ferris Bueller, tongue in cheek fashion, much like Virginia Woolf's Orlando, a novel written by an author who was certainly familiar with, and influenced by, Cavendish's work. And yes, this is definitely a novel, just as much as Defoe's dreary Robinson Crusoe is a novel, if not more so. And a much wittier novel at that.
This is specifically a reaction to the Kindle edition of Cavendish, which I just purchased (23 August 2011). Two obvious typos in my first 30 seconds of reading (locations 193, 2794). Come on Penguin! If you are going to be a serious leader in ebooks, clean things up. You are doing better than most, but your work is still sub-standard. Etexts should now be of the same quality as print. This is no reflection on the work of Kate Lilley the editor, or on the fascinating concoction of Margaret Cavendish's Blazing World, but on the sloppy conversion of this text. For prospective purchasers of this Kindle texts, I think despite my complaint you can go ahead. The book is readable, despite a few font errors and some obvious typos. It's not as bad as the Penguin Chaucer and some of the other poetry texts. My complaint is directly to the publisher, and I am probably wasting my time. Yet, without criticism, there will be no improvement.
'The whole story of this Lady is a romance, and all she doth is romantic' —Pepys Flamboyant, theatrical, exuding ambiguous sexuality, Margaret Cavendish, Duchess of Newcastle, was one of the seventeeth century's most striking figures, experimental in her personality as much as in her prolific writings.
I first heard about Margaret Cavendish’s The Blazing World through a friend on Google+ and was intrigued. A female science fiction writer from the time of the Plague and the Great Fire of London? Since the kindle version is so extraordinarily cheap I had to follow this through, and am very glad that I did.
First though, let me say that not all readers will enjoy this book (as is obvious from other reviews!). It is, naturally enough, written in an older form of English in which many words do not have quite the same sense as today. The most obvious example is “artificial". Today, if we see “artificial― in contrast to “natural― we tend to think that using “artificial― suggests that the thing is lacking in some way, clunky in comparison with the natural. But in the 17th century, it was used to indicate that something has been made by art, or artifice if you like, and so reveals something of ingenuity or creativity, as opposed to a raw product. A precious stone just out of the ground would be natural; the polished and shaped gem would be artificial.
Also, Margaret had no interest in fulfilling the plot expectations of some modern critics. Many things do happen, and I found the overall imaginative sweep gripping, but you won’t find a visceral cliff-hanger every few pages. Personally I liked this and it was a refreshing change from some of the formulaic modern material one encounters.
Finally, Margaret is just as interested – perhaps more so – in the philosophical shape of her world as the material one. There are descriptions of the physical layout of the Blazing World and how it might be accessed from our own. But there are also long sections in which one of the main female characters engages in intellectual debate with some of that world’s schools and learned institutions. Some of these are sympathetically presented, others plainly satirical, though you would have to know more than I about the intellectual landscape of her time to really appreciate the satire. It’s a bit like reading parts of Dante and trying to puzzle out why a particular person is being lampooned.
All in all, some modern readers would become impatient and frustrated with the book. For those who persevere with it, the gentle charm of the book draws you in. There is an inter-planetary war, and the invention of devices like submarines and torpedoes, but the real interest is in the intimacy of human contact, and the ultimate superiority of the world of the imagination over the world of external things. Particularly striking examples are “Why should you desire to be Empress of a Material World… when as by creating a World within yourself, you may enjoy … as much pleasure and delight as a World can afford you“, and again “if any should like the World I have made.and be willing to be my Subjects, they may imagine themselves such… but if they cannot endure to be Subjects, they may create Worlds of their own“. This theme increasingly comes to drive the narrative.
I became convinced as I read that modern authors such as Arthur C. Clarke have been influenced by The Blazing World. I was particularly reminded of the passage from 2001: “So almost certainly there is enough land in the sky to give every member of the human species, back to the first ape-man, his own private, world-sized heaven–or hell― – though in that case Clarke was thinking purely concretely in terms of stars in our galaxy, rather than imaginatively.
So five stars from me, along with a sincere wish that in whatever form Margaret might yet survive, she is able to receive modern appreciation of her work. This tale is not for everyone, certainly not for those who are impatient for a high-octane or erotically-charged plot, but personally I thoroughly enjoyed meeting this work and its author.(less)
Of course this is from a 21st century perspective; it's an achievement for a female of her age to be writing, there are all those new scientific thoughts coming out, blah blah, but fr...more Before reading this, I truly thought there were no utopias in fiction because they all turn into dystopias somehow. I also thought nobody would write a utopia because how the heck do you write a world where all is perfect, and make it interesting?
Of course this is from a 21st century perspective; it's an achievement for a female of her age to be writing, there are all those new scientific thoughts coming out, blah blah, but from a narrative perspective this has no conflict, climax, resolution, depth of characterisation whatsoever. The only conflict comes at the start of the book when she gets abducted, but nobody ever thought for a second that she was in any danger because the abductor got dashed into the rocks in the span of the next sentence. Everyone is perfect, systems are perfect, the world is filled with gaudy jewels and gold because that is Cavendish's definition of beauty, it's so obvious she put herself as both female characters who are, except for a brief mention of being desirous of fame, perfect. Oh Cavendish, so transparent in this book. This isn't a narrative, Cavendish. This is more epic wish fulfillment, except dreams are more exciting than this. (less)
The billing of this as proto science-fiction is probably why so many people find it disappointing. Cavendish's TBW is more of a barely plotted utopic text and scientific treatise--think Plato's Republic and Lucretius' atomism--with some pretty fantastic science fiction, feminist, and, uh, totalitarian ideas: the essential swerve/instability in all matter; disinterest in essential definitions in favor of the relations between matter (cause/effect); the possibilities of platonic love within and ac...more The billing of this as proto science-fiction is probably why so many people find it disappointing. Cavendish's TBW is more of a barely plotted utopic text and scientific treatise--think Plato's Republic and Lucretius' atomism--with some pretty fantastic science fiction, feminist, and, uh, totalitarian ideas: the essential swerve/instability in all matter; disinterest in essential definitions in favor of the relations between matter (cause/effect); the possibilities of platonic love within and across genders; multiple souls inhabiting single bodies; DISCOURSES ON THE DOWNSIDES OF M-FING ZOMBIE ARMIES ["they would stink and dissolve; and when they came to a fight, they would moulder into dust and ashes"]; the naturalness and rightness of curiosity and ambition in women; the need for feminist "worlds" of imagination, etc.
I have no idea how to rate this book, which was written in the latter part of the 17th century by the prolific and eccentric Margaret Cavendish, Duchess of Newcastle. This seems like the kind of book that would benefit from being read in an academic setting to give the author and her many ideas some context.
The imaginative scope of these works, especially "The Blazing World," is impressive, and Cavendish delights in melding genres -- "The Blazing World" is part philosophical/metaphysical treatise, part science fiction/fantasy, part political utopia with a definite proto-feminist bent. Her ideas about the natural world are as entertainingly incorrect as you'd expect from this era, and she's an advocate of absolute monarchy. The scope of Cavendish's imagination is both a strength and ultimately a weakness of the writing, as she has a tendency to give long repetitive descriptions of the fantastical aspects of The Blazing World and go on philosophical/metaphysical/scientific monologues about the functioning of whatever element of the world.
The other two works are more typical romances, with virtuous heroines who guard their chastity with all their might. They're easier and quicker reads, but I wouldn't have read those if not for their inclusion with "The Blazing World." Without spoiling too much (is it possible to spoil a writing hundreds of years old?), the heroine of "Assaulted and Pursued Chastity" gets a thumbs-up in my book for shooting her pursuer quite early in the book. (less)
Ok, so a lady is kidnapped by horny merchants, shipwrecked, rescued by "bear-men" from another dimension, escorted to said dimension, MADE EMPRESS of said dimension, receives instruction in metaphysics from a procession of "fly-men," "worm-men," giants, etc., and goes on to have a multi-dimensional 3-way (platonic) love-fest with the author (!) and her husband, culminating in an fiery orgy of violence and yet another piece of evidence (along with Quixote) that everything 'postmodern' was already...more Ok, so a lady is kidnapped by horny merchants, shipwrecked, rescued by "bear-men" from another dimension, escorted to said dimension, MADE EMPRESS of said dimension, receives instruction in metaphysics from a procession of "fly-men," "worm-men," giants, etc., and goes on to have a multi-dimensional 3-way (platonic) love-fest with the author (!) and her husband, culminating in an fiery orgy of violence and yet another piece of evidence (along with Quixote) that everything 'postmodern' was already done in the 17th century.
I found 'The Contract' and 'Assaulted and Pursued Chastity' to be of more interest than the main story 'The Blazing World'. 'Blazing World' was repetitive with lists after lists. It started with an idea of a utopia, then it went forward with a plot that did not keep my interest. All three stories contained the same themes of a young damsel soon to be saved by some man, whether through a husband or father figure. It was interesting that a woman writer during Cavendish's time would stick to this i...more I found 'The Contract' and 'Assaulted and Pursued Chastity' to be of more interest than the main story 'The Blazing World'. 'Blazing World' was repetitive with lists after lists. It started with an idea of a utopia, then it went forward with a plot that did not keep my interest. All three stories contained the same themes of a young damsel soon to be saved by some man, whether through a husband or father figure. It was interesting that a woman writer during Cavendish's time would stick to this idea instead of having more independent women characters.(less)
It starts off with an intriguing story. A woman who is...more I was interested in reading Margaret Cavendish's The Blazing World (1666) as an early example of feminist science fiction — a precursor to Mary Shelley's Frankenstein (1818) — and an oft-cited example of early utopian, speculative and interstitial fiction.
It starts off with an intriguing story. A woman who is abducted and then shipwrecked lands in a fantasy world populated by bear, fox and bird-men and becomes their Empress. It made me think of China Miéville's Bas Lag fantasy world populated by a mish mash of animal and insect men, so I was gratified to find that Miéville references Cavendish in his books Kraken and Un Lun Dun and to find this article "Trans-speciation: From Margaret Cavendish to China Miéville" by Amardeep Singh at The Valve, A Literary Organ.
The middle of the story lost interest for me. There is a long section of back and forth dialogue with philosophical discourse between the Empress and her various subjects (bird, bear and fish-men etc.). Without the effort of a closer reading or knowledge of 17th century discussions of the day, I found this hard to follow and skimmed much of it. In his introduction to a sample of the work in The Faber Book of Utopias, editor John Carey calls The Blazing World "tedious and rambling" and this section in particular "loquaciously unenlightening."
The "and other writings" are two stories that appeared in Cavendish's publication Nature's Pieces (1656) "The Contract" and "Assaulted and Pursued Chastity." "The Contract" reads a bit like a fairy tale romance with the protagonist rather more empowered but the happily ever after marriage ending intact.
Cavendish is a fascinating personality and prolific writer. At a time in which it was rare for women to publish and sign their works, Cavendish put herself forward as an author. Like the Lady Gaga of her time, she was an eccentric in dress and action who sought and achieved fame. She wished for her writing to make its mark and has succeeded with writers from Virginia Woolf to China Miéville, if critically, noting her contribution. I'm a fan — and interested in learning more about her life, work, and the era in which she lived.
"Nevertheless, though her philosophies are futile, and her plays intolerable, and her verses mainly dull, the vast bulk of the Duchess is leavened by a vein of authentic fire. One cannot help following the lure of her erratic and lovable personality as it meanders and twinkles through page after page. There is something noble and Quixotic and high-spirited, as well as crack-brained and bird-witted, about her. Her simplicity is so open; her intelligence so active; her sympathy with fairies and animals so true and tender." — Virginia Woolf on Margaret Cavendish in The Common Reader http://kgarch.org/bg8.pdf http://kgarch.org/877.pdf http://kgarch.org/9b7.pdf http://kgarch.org/2i8.pdf http://kgarch.org/99k.pdf http://kgarch.org/hbf.pdf http://kgarch.org/n5g.pdf http://kgarch.org/mhb.pdf http://kgarch.org/m11.pdf http://kgarch.org/130a.pdf http://kgarch.org/73n.pdf http://kgarch.org/ccd.pdf http://kgarch.org/4df.pdf