A selection of her stories include:
- The description of a new world, called ‘The blazing-world’
- The Convent of Pleasure (A Play)
- Grounds of natural philosophy,
- An Apology for Writing So Much upon This Book
- The Poetresses Petition,
- The Poetresses hasty Resolution,
Margaret Cavendish’s Books and Plays
Two Volumes printed by A. Warren (London) contained:
Loves Adventures
The Several Wits
Youths Glory, and Deaths Banquet
The Lady Contemplation
Wits Cabal
The Unnatural Tragedy
The Public Wooing
The Matrimonial Trouble
Nature's Three Daughters, Beauty, Love and Wit
The Religious
The Comical Hash
Bell in Campo
A Comedy of the Apocryphal Ladies
The Female Academy
Plays, Never Before Printed (1668) was published by Anne Maxwell (London) and contains:
The Sociable Companions, or the Female Wits
The Presence
Scenes (edited from The Presence)
The Bridals
The Convent of Pleasure
A Piece of a Play
Born Margaret Lucas in 1623, the sister of Sir Charles Lucas, Sir Thomas Lucas and Baron De Shenfield (John Lucas) of Colchester, Essex
Margaret secured a position in the Court of Charles I and was maid of Honour to the Queen. On the kings defeat during the Civil wars and his subsequent execution, she followed his son (the future King Charles II ) and the rest of the royal court into exile on the continent.
It was while in Europe she meet William, Lord Cavendish Earl of Newcastle-upon-Tyne. whom she married becoming his second wife. During this time Margaret continued to write, encouraged by William, himself a poet and writer. Having heard of her writing it is said that it was Charles II himself who coined the nickname ‘Mad Madge’. On the restoration of the monarchy they returned to England.
It was unusual for a woman to be acknowledged as a writer at this time, However many of her stories, poets and plays were published, receiving great acclaim. The Blazing World is considered by many as one of the first if not the first science fiction stories ever published. It is hard to belief the story was published almost 400 years ago.
In 1665 William became the First Duke of Newcastle-upon-Tyne, making Margaret the Duchess.
They are both buried in Westminster Abbey. Charles II lead her funeral cortège.
In the knowledge we have of the Royal court at this time there is speculation as to the true relationship between Madge and Charles II.
|
About |