The Description of a New World, Called The Blazing-World (1666) by Margaret Cavendish, Duchess of Newcastle-upon-Tyne

The Description of a New World, Called The Blazing-World (1666) by Margaret Cavendish, Duchess of Newcastle-upon-Tyne. COVID-19 Recreational Reading.

An early entry in the genre that would be, much later, called science fiction. Cavendish was not the first to explore this territory of the utopia. See for instance, the earlier The City of the Sun (Italian: La città del Sole; Latin: Civitas Solis) (1602) by Tommaso Campanella. Cavendish, however, with her engaging the topic with issues of gender, power, and especially a curious and unique take on natural history set her work apart. 

"The Empress confessed that she observed Nature was infinitely various in her works, and that though the species of Creatures did continue, yet their particulars were subject to infinite changes."

Particularly notable is the use of a female lead in the work. 

“The Spirits answered, That the lives of Fame were like other lives; for some lasted long, and some died soon. 'Tis true, said the Duchess; but yet the shortest-liv'd Fame lasts longer then the longest life of Man.”

• Read: June 10, 2020

• See my complete 2020 Reading list on Goodreads.