hexatrance 's review for:

The Blazing World and Other Writings by Margaret Cavendish

3.75

reflective medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Plot

Strong character development: No

Loveable characters: No

Diverse cast of characters: Complicated

Flaws of characters a main focus: No

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Cavendish's writing, and I mean this as a compliment and a criticism, is batshit. Dare I say whimsical. It's fun because it's out there. This is my first time reading Cavendish and I thought I'd be drawn to The Blazing World because it's hyped up as a feminist utopia, but actually 'Assaulted and Pursued Chasity' has way more of an entertaining plot. And 'The Contract' felt like it could have been written a 100 years later closer to the Brontës era. All the texts are underpinned with the uncomfortable class/race views of their time, but 'Assaulted and Pursed Chasitity' had way more exciting feminist implications compared to the self insert fanfiction of Blazing World. However, Blazing World, even in it's dry philosophical moments, is such an interesting read just because of the wild imagination Cavendish brings to the table.