Welcome to the History Extra Podcast, fascinating historical conversations from BBC History Magazine

and BBC History Revealed.

Margaret Cavendish has been largely forgotten, and when she has been remembered, she often

divides opinion.

One of England's first female philosophers, professional authors and scientists.

This 17th century writer challenged convention throughout her life.

Speaking to Lauren Good, Francesca Peacock, the author of a new biography of Cavendish,

explores this remarkable and often complex woman.

Hi Francesca, thank you so much for joining me today.

Hi Lauren, it's so lovely to be here, I'm so excited.

Our new book, Pure Wit, discusses the complex and largely forgotten woman, Margaret Cavendish.

Who was she?

So Margaret Cavendish was a woman who probably very few people have had of now, but I believe

she's very deserving of a much wider audience.

She is one of England's first female philosophers, authors, professional authors and scientists.

So she lived between 1623 and 1673.

So she lived through the outbreak of the English Civil War, all of the later fighting, her

family were very involved with the fighting.

She then went into exile with Henrietta Maria, who's the wife of Charles I, as one of her

ladies in waiting, and then spends lots of time in Europe on the continent, because of

the wars.

Eventually comes back at the restoration in 1660, and it's here where her career really

...