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God and Nature in the Thought of Margaret Cavendish

Lisa T Sarasohn author Brandie R Siegfried author

Format:Hardback

Publisher:Taylor & Francis Ltd

Published:10th Sep '14

Currently unavailable, and unfortunately no date known when it will be back

God and Nature in the Thought of Margaret Cavendish cover

Only recently have scholars begun to note Margaret Cavendish’s references to 'God,' 'spirits,' and the 'rational soul,' and little has been published in this regard. This volume addresses that scarcity by taking up the theological threads woven into Cavendish’s ideas about nature, matter, magic, governance, and social relations, with special attention given to Cavendish’s literary and philosophical works. Reflecting the lively state of Cavendish studies, God and Nature in the Thought of Margaret Cavendish allows for disagreements among the contributing authors, whose readings of Cavendish sometimes vary in significant ways; and it encourages further exploration of the theological elements evident in her literary and philosophical works. Despite the diversity of thought developed here, several significant points of convergence establish a foundation for future work on Cavendish’s vision of nature, philosophy, and God. The chapters collected here enhance our understanding of the intriguing-and sometimes brilliant-contributions Cavendish made to debates about God’s place in the scientific cosmos.

"This collection of essays by some of the most prominent established international scholars of early modern women writers offers insight into the work of Margaret Cavendish (1623-73) ... Because Cavendish is a fascinating but often complex writer, this book is required reading for those interested in her work. Summing Up: Highly recommended. Graduate students, researchers, faculty."

- Choice

"God and Nature in the Thought of Margaret Cavendish will appeal to a variety of readers. Historians of science will appreciate the contributors' work on Cavendish's views of Nature and their relationship to the development of early modern science. Religious studies scholars will find a fine collection of essays about theology and diverse spiritual traditions. Finally, literary theorists will read excellent analyses of different games and narrative forms."

- Seventeenth Century News

"This collection provides a thorough examination of Cavendish’s views, not only in the context of contemporary philosophers, but also in relation to her own writings. (...) The book will have a broad appeal beyond specialist Cavendish scholars; its cross-disciplinary approach will make it of interest to scholars of the seventeenth century and the history of ideas."

- Tessa Morrison, The University of Newcastle, Australia in Parergon: Journal of the Australian and New Zealand Association for Medieval and Early Modern Studies, volume 33.1 (2016).


"They together succeed in capturing the power and eclecticism of Cavendish's thought, while suggesting promising avenues for future research." -- Kathryn Morris, University of King's College, Nova Scotia

ISBN: 9781472439611

Dimensions: unknown

Weight: 635g

274 pages