My latest podcast is up on the New Books Network! In it I interview Lisa Walters about her study of the thought of the 17th century writer and philosopher Margaret Cavendish, Duchess of Newcastle-upon-Tyne. Enjoy!

In 1666, another woman was creating the genre, combining it with elements of utopia, social commentary, satire, philosophy and even a touch of autobiography. The author was a somewhat eccentric duchess described by Samuel Pepys as being “mad”, a poet, philosopher and patron of the sciences who argued that woman could be educated to be on equal standing with men. You probably haven’t heard of her. honestly, I hadn’t heard of her until very recently.

Before Mary Shelley's stormy night, there was an eccentrically dressed Duchess called Margaret Cavendish and The Blazing World.