Shipwrecked in an alternate world, a young woman leads the natives to a society free of war and that champions equality. The Blazing World by Margaret Cavendish serves as a testament to the talent and innovation of the 17th century author. With the exploration of topics such as gender, power, sexuality, religion, science, and philosophy, the book challenges convention and provides thoughtful entertainment.

When a young woman is shipwrecked in the kingdom of the Blazing World, she befriends the natives, a highly intelligent and tolerant group of humanoid animals. With the help of the locals, the woman becomes the Empress of the island, and leads the Blazing World into a society of peace, equality, and understanding.

Margaret Cavendish’s The Blazing World explores hot-button topics and themes, bringing a perspective that is still fresh modern-day. With imaginative and gripping prose, Cavendish advocates for philosophy over the material world, becoming a pioneer and strong advocate for peace, animals’ rights, feminism, and equality. Her work is considered innovative not only for the exploration of these topics, but also for the invention of a genre.

This edition of The Blazing World is printed in a modern font and redesigned with a striking new cover, bringing Cavendish’s trailblazing literature into the 21st century.