The Blazing World

By: Margaret Cavendish

Narrated by: Gabrielle de Cuir

In 1666, as Sir Isaac Newton is developing differential calculus and Robert Hooke suggests that the force of gravity can be measured utilizing the motion of a pendulum, Margaret Cavendish, duchess of Newcastle, published The Description of A New World, Called the Blazing-World, better known as The Blazing World.

A young lady is kidnapped by a visiting merchant who is enchanted with her. Through divine interference, the ship is beset by a storm and everyone but the lady perishes. Blown up to the North Pole, she inadvertently passes into to another world, the Blazing World, where she is almost immediately made supreme ruler. As the lady begins to exercise her will, Cavendish lays out her own utopia and discusses a wide range of scientific, political, social, and religious topics. But when a war breaks out in her home world, what will the lady do with all power of the Blazing World behind her?

An adventure tale, a romance, and a work of proto-science fiction, this 17th-century utopian novel touches on alchemy, the occult, religion, and natural philosophy while exploring such issues as science, gender, and power.

Public Domain (P)2020 Blackstone Publishing

True to Form, Interesting Listen

The narrator was articulate and fitting, they have the voice I’d imagine Cavendish would. As for the story, keep in mind it is a novel from the late 1600s. It’s a pretty enjoyable listen if you like more description-based, “trippy” world building type books. Wanting of plot but I don’t believe that is what Cavendish intended. Also the sections where she, the author, shows up are pretty funny, especially if you’re familiar with her work.

A good first of it's kind

A summary could be... Woman goes to a new world and asks too many questions.