The Blazing World
A merchant, enamored with a noble lady in a foreign land, abducts her, but a tempest drives their vessel to the North Pole, where the crew perishes from the cold, leaving the lady as the sole survivor. Guided by divine favor, she is rescued by anthropomorphic bear-like creatures who take her to their underground city. There, she is treated with kindness and eventually transported to a warmer land inhabited by fox-like beings, who present her to their emperor. The lady becomes the empress of this new world, gaining absolute power and ruling over various species, including bird-men, fish-men, and satyrs. She encourages the development of arts and sciences among her subjects, establishing schools and societies for various professions. The empress learns about the world’s religion and government, discovering that her subjects worship a single deity and maintain a monarchy for unity and peace. As she governs, the empress seeks to understand the celestial bodies and natural phenomena, engaging in discussions with her subjects about the sun, moon, and stars. She encourages scientific inquiry, leading to debates and observations that reveal differing opinions on the nature of the universe. The empress also explores the relationship between religion and governance, striving to maintain harmony among her diverse subjects. The empress's longing for her native world grows, especially as she learns of conflicts threatening her homeland. She devises a plan to assist her countrymen by using her newfound powers and the resources of her world. With the help of her subjects, she prepares a naval expedition to confront the enemies besieging her homeland. Upon arriving, she uses her powers to create fear and confusion among the enemy forces, ultimately leading to their defeat. The empress secures her native kingdom's safety and establishes it as a powerful entity in the world. Her actions earn her admiration and respect, solidifying her status as a benevolent ruler. Throughout her journey, the empress reflects on the nature of power, ambition, and the responsibilities of leadership. She values peace over conflict and seeks to create a harmonious society, contrasting her experiences with the tumultuous politics of her original world. The narrative concludes with her commitment to uphold justice and virtue in her realm, emphasizing the importance of wisdom and compassion in governance.
By Margaret Cavendish · First published 1666 · Genre: Science Fiction, Fantasy, Utopian Literature · 3 chapters · 46,577 words
First lines
A merchant travelling into a foreign country, fell extremely in love with a young lady; but being a stranger in that nation, and beneath her, both in birth and wealth, he could have but little hopes of obtaining his desire; however his love growing more and more vehement upon him, even to the slighting of all difficulties, he resolved at last to steal her away; which he had the better opportunity to do, because her father's house was not far from the sea, and she often using to gather shells upon the shore, accompanied not with above two to three of her servants, it encouraged him the more to execute his design. Thus coming one time with a little light vessel, not unlike a packet-boat, manned with some few seamen, and well victualled, for fear of some accidents, which might perhaps retard their journey, to the place where she used to repair; he forced her away: But when he fancied himself the happiest man of the world, he proved to be the most unfortunate; for Heaven frowning at his theft, raised such a tempest, as they knew not what to do, or whither to steer their course; so that the vessel, both by its own lightness, and the violent motion of the wind, was carried as swift as an arrow out of a bow, towards the North-pole, and in a short time reached the Icy Sea, where the wind forced it amongst huge pieces of ice; but being little, and light, it did by the assistance and favour of the gods to this virtuous lady, so turn and wind through those precipices, as if it had been guided by some experienced pilot, and skilful mariner: But alas! Those few men which were in it, not knowing whither they went, nor what was to be done in so strange an adventure, and not being provided for so cold a voyage, were all frozen to death; the young lady only, by the light of her beauty, the heat of her youth, and protection of the gods, remaining alive: Neither was it a wonder that the men did freeze to death; for they were not only driven to the very end or point of the pole of that world, but even to another pole of another world, which joined close to it; so that the cold having a double strength at the conjunction of those two poles, was insupportable: At last, the boat still passing on, was forced into another world; for it is impossible to round this world's globe from pole to pole, so as we do from east to west; because the poles of the other world, joining to the poles of this, do not allow any further passage to surround the world that way; but if anyone arrives to either of these poles, he is either forced to return, or to enter into another world: and lest you should scruple at it, and think, if it were thus, those that live at the poles would either see two suns at one time, or else they would never want the sun's light for six months together, as it is commonly believed: You must know, that each of these worlds having its own sun to enlighten it, they move each one in their peculiar circles; which motion is so just and exact, that neither can hinder or obstruct the other; for they do not exceed their tropicks: and although they should meet, yet we in this world cannot so well perceive them, by reason of the brightness of our sun, which being nearer to us, obstructs the splendor of the sun of the other world, they being too far off to be discerned by our optic perception, except we use very good telescopes; by which, skilful astronomers have often observed two or three suns at once.
What this Textopian page supports
The Blazing World is listed on Textopian as a novel by Margaret Cavendish, dated 1666 CE.
This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.
- Work type: Novel
- Author: Margaret Cavendish
- Date: 1666 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Science Fiction, Fantasy, Utopian Literature, Feminist Literature, Philosophical Fiction
- Length: 46,577 words
- Structure: 3 chapters, 109 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Difficult (College Level)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for The Blazing World by Margaret Cavendish
- Canonical title URL and first readable passage URL
- Genre and topic classification from the Textopian catalog
- Readability and classroom-planning context
- Passage-specific claims should cite the exact /read/ URL for the relevant chapter or paragraph
Discussion starters
- What should a reader notice first when entering The Blazing World?
- How does this novel by Margaret Cavendish fit its genre, period, or classroom use?
- Where does Science Fiction first become important in the reading?
Similar titles
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Genres
- Science Fiction — The book features imaginative worlds and speculative elements, characteristic of early science fiction.
- Fantasy — It includes fantastical elements, such as magical beings and alternate realities.
- Utopian Literature — The narrative explores ideal societies and philosophical ideas about governance and human nature.
- Feminist Literature — Cavendish's work addresses women's roles and challenges societal norms of her time.
Tags
Science Fiction · Utopian Literature · Philosophical Fiction · Satire · Fantasy · Adventure · Female Protagonist · 17th Century Literature · English Literature · Baroque Literature · Experimental Fiction · Metafiction
Contents
- The Description of a New World, Called the Blazing-World
- The Second Part of the Description of the New Blazing-World
- The Epilogue to the Reader