Margaret Cavendish: A Polymath Who Scandalized 17th-Century London

I read her novel “The Blazing World” early last year as part of a Elle Griffin’s project to read Utopian novels. It was startlingly modern, funny, and enjoyable. I’ve read other things from that period they can be difficult or dull. I would have guessed she was a contemporary of Verne or Wells (or Poe) rather than Newton and Pepys. I liked it better than Utopia (it’s funnier).

In what could be seen as an interesting contrast to the article, Wikipedia offers the following perspective: "[Cavendish] notes that ... amongst strangers she became bashful, being afraid she might speak or act inappropriately ... while anxious to be well-received and well-liked. She spoke only when necessary [rather than] be seen as wanton or rude."

And: "The epitaph reads: 'Her name was Margaret Lucas, youngest daughter of Lord Lucas, Earl of Colchester, a noble family: for all the brothers were valiant, and all the sisters virtuous.'"

Margaret Cavendish, Duchess of Newcastle-upon-Tyne (née Lucas; 1623–1673) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Margaret_Cavendish,_Duchess_of...