Cavendish, Margaret

Margaret Cavendish: Political Writings (Cambridge Texts in the History of Political Thought)
Average customer rating: 4 out of 5 stars
  • Easy to follow; almost modern English
 Margaret Cavendish: Political Writings (Cambridge Texts in the History of Political Thought)
Margaret Cavendish
Manufacturer: Cambridge University Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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  1. Margaret Cavendish: Observations upon Experimental Philosophy (Cambridge Texts in the History of Philosophy)

ASIN: 0521633494

Book Description

Margaret Cavendish, Duchess of Newcastle (1623-1673) is unique among women writers of the seventeenth century in the scale of her output and in her aspiration to create a philosophical system. This edition presents Cavendish as a political author, and Susan James includes two major texts, the Orations and The Blazing World, accompanied by the standard series features that enables students to gain a better understanding of one of the truly distinctive political voices of the early modern period.

Customer Reviews:

4 out of 5 stars Easy to follow; almost modern English.......2004-09-24

Throughout history, it has been very difficult to find writings by women, whatever the subjects of these writings. A scarcity that presisted typically till the end of the 19th century and the advent of industrialisation and universal education for both sexes. So what prior female writings that do exist are often distinguished by their mere existence.

Like the essays of Margaret Cavendish, who lived in 17th century Britain. There have been other studies of her, but on her poetry and fiction. What James shows here is Cavendish's political bent. The book reproduces the full text of many of these essays. Fascinating reading. Cavendish was clearly an eloquent and facile writer.

Plus the times in which she lived were turbulent. Her husband was a prominent Royalist in the Civil War, and they had to flee to Europe afterwards. In several essays, we see her Royalist sentiments most explicitly. Clearly, the years in exile must have torn at her, even if some of these years were self imposed, unlike for her husband.

The wording in the essays is virtually modern English, with just a smattering of thou's and hath's. Much easier to read than Shakespeare, even though he was only a century hence.
The Blazing World and Other Writings (Penguin Classics)
Average customer rating: 4 out of 5 stars
  • Not quite a forgotten classic, but deserves more attention
 The Blazing World and Other Writings (Penguin Classics)
Margaret Cavendish
Manufacturer: Penguin Classics
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0140433724

Customer Reviews:

4 out of 5 stars Not quite a forgotten classic, but deserves more attention.......2002-07-01

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.
Margaret Cavendish: Observations upon Experimental Philosophy (Cambridge Texts in the History of Philosophy)
Average customer rating: 4 out of 5 stars
  • For Modern Philosophy Afficianados Only!
 Margaret Cavendish: Observations upon Experimental Philosophy (Cambridge Texts in the History of Philosophy)
Margaret Cavendish
Manufacturer: Cambridge University Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0521776759

Book Description

Margaret Cavendish's Observations upon Experimental Philosophy holds a unique position in early modern philosophy. Cavendish rejects the picture of nature as a grand machine that was propounded by Hobbes and Descartes; she also rejects the alternative views of nature that make reference to immaterial spirits. Instead she develops an original system of organicist materialism, and draws on the doctrines of ancient Stoicism to attack the tenets of seventeenth-century mechanical philosophy. Her treatise is a document of major importance in the history of women's contributions to philosophy and science.

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Margaret Cavendish's 1668 edition of Observations upon Experimental Philosophy, presented here in its first modern edition, holds a unique position in early modern philosophy. Cavendish rejects the Aristotelianism which was taught in the universities in the seventeenth century, and the picture of nature as a grand machine which was propounded by Hobbes, Descartes and members of the Royal Society of London, such as Boyle. She also rejects the views of nature which make reference to immaterial spirits. Instead she develops an original system of organicist materialism, and draws on the doctrines of ancient Stoicism to attack the tenets of seventeenth-century mechanical philosophy. Her treatise is a document of major importance in the history of women's contributions to philosophy and science.

Customer Reviews:

4 out of 5 stars For Modern Philosophy Afficianados Only!.......2004-06-27

Eileen O'Neill's annotated, unabridged edition of Margaret Cavendish's Observations on Experimental Philosophy, (part of the Cambridge Texts in the History of Philosophy Series), is a solid contribution to the history of metaphysics. It has not appeared in print since its second edition in 1668. While considerable work on Cavendish as a literary writer, e.g. her letters, poems and plays, has been done in recent years, less has been done on her work in metaphysics. O'Neill's labors will undoubtedly change this fact. This modern edition makes this work accessible to scholars in the history of philosophy and philosophy of science. It offers critical annotations which situate and clarify this work for the modern scholar, although it may be the case that not enough is said about Cavendish's reliance upon the Scholastics. However, O'Neill does a more than respectable job cross-referencing Cavendish's philosophical arguments with classic specialists of the period in philosophy of science. Readers can look forward to a helpful bibliography as well.


O'Neill's 26 page introduction details Cavendish's political and social environment so that not only her philosophical contributions are reconstituted, but also the historical circumstances surrounding them. Cavendish represents one of many female writers in the mid-seventeenth century, but is the only one to publish works in philosophy under her own name. Thus Cavendish is an important figure on several fronts. Philosophically she outlines a system of natural philosophy, which rejects Aristotle, Hobbes and Descartes. Religiously, she proposes an atheistic system of nature and politically, she calls for a platform which includes women as cognitive, rational contributors to the problems of science and philosophy. This edition of Observations will appeal to all respective disciplines.


The strength of O'Neill's introduction is her discussion of the Stoic influences on Cavendish. O'Neill has done her research to this end. While her brief overview assumes a learned fluency with this era of philosophy, and remains silent about many aspects of the Observations it can still be useful for the disciplined novice. O'Neill is able to delineate how Cavendish's materialist system of nature, with its reliance upon animate, self-moving, non-divisible bodies harkens back to Stoicism. Further, she previews concepts which mature in Cavendish's writings and carry less resemblance to Stocism such as her bifurcation of the Stoics "active principle" into the "sensitive" and the "rational". The introduction also cashes out Cavendish's primary objections to Epicurean Atomism, and her reservations regarding a mechanistic account of natural change. O'Neill takes great care with this latter issue and sets out Cavendish's main arguments. If the introductory essay lacks for anything, it is a discussion about the scholastic influences on Cavendish. The format of the Obervations is clearly reminiscent of Aquinas' Summa, with the problem-response-objection-counter response style, yet no real mention of this fact is made. However, O'Neill does not ignore this issue as is illustrated in the several footnotes which allude to the Schoolmen.


O'Neill offers good footnotes with references to figures such as Hobbes, Boyle, Aristotle, Power, Bacon, Descartes and Hooke. Often, the references are to lesser known works by these authors. Thus, it is clear that serious Cavendish scholars will need to be especially familiar with these works. In this regard, O'Neill tends to offer more detailed and frequent annotations in the sections of Cavendish's work which consider issues in early modern philosophy of science and Atomism, than she does in the considerable section Cavendish spends on the issue of the problem of perception. There is no question that this well researched, documented and annotated edition will allow the labors of Cavendish to be revisited and her voice to once again be heard.
Paper Bodies: A Margaret Cavendish Reader (Broadview Literary Texts)
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    		Paper Bodies: A Margaret Cavendish Reader (Broadview Literary Texts)
    Margaret Cavendish , Sylvia Bowebank , and Sara Mendelspn
    Manufacturer: Broadview Press
    ProductGroup: Book
    Binding: Paperback

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    2. The Blazing World and Other Writings (Penguin Classics)
    3. Renaissance Drama by Women: Texts and Documents
    4. Margaret Cavendish: Observations upon Experimental Philosophy (Cambridge Texts in the History of Philosophy)
    5. Renaissance Women Poets (Penguin Classics)

    ASIN: 155111173X

    Book Description

    Margaret Cavendish was one of the most subversive and entertaining writers of the seventeenth century. She invented new genres, challenged gender roles, and critiqued the new science as well as the mores of society. "Paper Bodies" was the wonderful phrase she used to described her manuscripts, which she hoped would continue to make "a great Blazing Light" after her death. There are connections here to Cavendish's most famous work, The Description of a New World, Called the Blazing World (1666), a unique tale of a woman travelling through the north pole to a strange new world.

    In addition to The Blazing World, this volume includes Cavendish's brief autobiography, A True Relation of My Birth, Breeding and Life (1667), her play The Convent of Pleasure, and selections from her Sociable Letters, her poetry, and her critical writings. A variety of background documents by other seventeenth-century writers helps to set her work in context for the modern reader.
    "The Convent of Pleasure" and Other Plays
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      		"The Convent of Pleasure" and Other Plays
      Margaret Cavendish
      Manufacturer: The Johns Hopkins University Press
      ProductGroup: Book
      Binding: Paperback

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      ASIN: 0801861004

      Book Description

      Margaret Cavendish, Duchess of Newcastle (1623-1673), until recently remembered more as a flamboyant eccentric than as a serious writer, was in fact the most prolific, thought-provoking, and original woman writer of the Restoration. Cavendish is the author of many poems, short stories, biographies, memoirs, letters, philosophical and scientific works (including The Description of a New World, Called The Blazing World, the first work of science fiction by a woman), and nineteen plays.

      "The Convent of Pleasure" and Other Plays collects four of Cavendish's dramatic works that are among the most revealing of her attitudes toward marriage and her desire for fame. Loves Adventures (1662) centers on a woman succeeding in war and diplomacy by passing as a man. Similarly, the heroine of Bell in Campo (1662) rescues her husband at the head of an army of women in this tale of a marriage of near equals. The Convent of Pleasure (1668) proposes a separatist community of women and has received attention for its suggestion of lesbian sexuality. The Bridals (1662), a more typical restoration comedy satirizing marriage, rounds out the collection.

      Edited with notes and annotation by Anne Shaver, "The Convent of Pleasure" and Other Plays also contains a timeline, biography and bibliography of the Duchess, an appreciation of Cavendish's life and work, and a bibliography of critical essays. Also included are all of Cavendish's epistles To the Reader as well as Other Preliminary Matter from Playes (1662), and Cavendish's original preface to Plays Never Before Printed (1668). A valuable collection from an extraordinary writer, "The Convent of Pleasure" and Other Plays raises important issues about women and gender.

      Assaulted And Pursued Chastity
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        		Assaulted And Pursued Chastity
        Margaret Cavendish
        Manufacturer: Kessinger Publishing
        ProductGroup: Book
        Binding: Paperback

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        ASIN: 1419107852

        Book Description

        She answered, that if his Senses or his Person did betray her to his Lust, she wished them all annihilated, or at least buried in Dust: but I hope, said she, by your noble and civil usage, you will give me cause to pray for you, and not to wish you Evil; for why should you rob me of that which Nature freely gave? and it is an Injustice to take the Goods from the right Owners without their consents; and an Injustice is an Act that all Noble Minds hate; and all Noble Minds usually dwell in Honourable Persons, such as you seem to be; and none but base or cruel Tyrants will lay unreasonable Commands, or require wicked Demands to the powerlesse, or vertuous.

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        She answered, that if his Senses or his Person did betray her to his Lust, she wished them all annihilated, or at least buried in Dust: but I hope, said she, by your noble and civil usage, you will give me cause to pray for you, and not to wish you Evil; for why should you rob me of that which Nature freely gave? and it is an Injustice to take the Goods from the right Owners without their consents; and an Injustice is an Act that all Noble Minds hate; and all Noble Minds usually dwell in Honourable Persons, such as you seem to be; and none but base or cruel Tyrants will lay unreasonable Commands, or require wicked Demands to the powerlesse, or vertuous.
        The Contract
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          		The Contract
          Margaret Cavendish
          Manufacturer: Kessinger Publishing
          ProductGroup: Book
          Binding: Paperback

          ContemporaryContemporary | General | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books
          ASIN: 1419157582

          Book Description

          But the old Gentleman, perceiving his neglect towards his Neece, and hearing of his Affections to that Lady, strove by all the Care and Industry he could to give her such Breeding as might win his Love; not that he was negligent before she was contracted to him; for from the time of four years old, she was taught all that her Age was capable of, as to sing, and to dance; for he would have this Artificial Motion become as natural, and to grow in perfection, as she grew in years.

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          But the old Gentleman, perceiving his neglect towards his Neece, and hearing of his Affections to that Lady, strove by all the Care and Industry he could to give her such Breeding as might win his Love; not that he was negligent before she was contracted to him; for from the time of four years old, she was taught all that her Age was capable of, as to sing, and to dance; for he would have this Artificial Motion become as natural, and to grow in perfection, as she grew in years.
          New Blazing World and Other Writings (The Pickering Women's Classics)
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            		New Blazing World and Other Writings (The Pickering Women's Classics)
            Margaret Cavendish, Duchess of Newcastle , and Margaret Cavendish
            Manufacturer: Pickering & Chatto (Publishers) Ltd
            ProductGroup: Book
            Binding: Hardcover

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            ASIN: 1851960244
            The Description of a New World, Called The Blazing World [EasyRead Edition]
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              		The Description of a New World, Called The Blazing World [EasyRead Edition]
              Margaret Cavendish
              Manufacturer: ReadHowYouWant.com
              ProductGroup: Book
              Binding: Paperback

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              ASIN: 1425017851

              Book Description

              The first science fiction work ever written by a female. It chronicles the adventures of a lady who after being kidnapped finds herself in a different realm. In this incredible world, the animals are highly intelligent and can even speak. Cavendish has cleverly blended her feminist views with science fiction in this spectacular portrayal of a utopian land. Absorbing!
              The Description of a New World, Called The Blazing World (Large Print)
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                		The Description of a New World, Called The Blazing World (Large Print)
                Margaret Cavendish
                Manufacturer: ReadHowYouWant.com
                ProductGroup: Book
                Binding: Paperback

                GeneralGeneral | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books | Classics | Comic | Contemporary | Literary
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                ASIN: 1425020909

                Book Description

                The first science fiction work ever written by a female. It chronicles the adventures of a lady who after being kidnapped finds herself in a different realm. In this incredible world, the animals are highly intelligent and can even speak. Cavendish has cleverly blended her feminist views with science fiction in this spectacular portrayal of a utopian land. Absorbing!

                Authors:

                1. Caveney, Philip
                2. Cedering, Siv
                3. Cervantes, Lorna Dee
                4. Cervantes, Miguel De
                5. Chaffin, C. E.
                6. Chaikin, Linda
                7. Chaix, Marie
                8. Chalker, Jack L.
                9. Chambers, Joy
                10. Chambers, Robert W.

                Authors

                Authors