Betwixt The Sheets: The History of Sex, Scandal & Society

17th Century Sci-Fi Writer & 'It Girl': Margaret Cavendish

Margaret Cavendish was extraordinary for any time, let alone the 17th century. She was a trailblazer in fiction, writing and publishing what many believe to be the first science fiction book - her 1666 work 'Blazing World' imagined a planet led by an Empress. The story also featured a lesbian affair between the Empress and herself, Margaret Cavendish. Truly, fantastic. She played a provocative and starring role amongst London's elite, and Samuel Pepys was obsessed with meeting her. How did he describe her? Why was she the talk of the town in 17th century London? Joining Kate today is Francesca Peacock, author of Pure Wit: The Revolutionary Life of Margaret Cavendish. This episode was edited by Teän Stewart-Murray, the producer was Stuart Beckwith. The senior producer was Charlotte Long. Don’t miss out on the best offer in history! Enjoy unlimited access to award-winning original documentaries that are released weekly and AD-FREE podcasts. Get a subscription for £1 for 3 months with code BETWIXTTHESHEETS1 sign up now for your 14-day free trial <a href="https://historyhit/subscription/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://historyhit/subscription/</a>

Join sex historian Kate Lister on Betwixt the Sheets as she gets intimate with the stories that would make your history teacher blush. What were the Victorians really like behind closed (bedroom) doors? How did the Black Death favour women in medieval England? And what was Caesar like in the sack?  She'll be bed-hopping around different time periods; from ancient civilisations, to the middle ages, to renaissance and early modern...right up to now. You’ll laugh, you’ll wince, and you’ll ask yourself how much has actually changed. So join Kate Betwixt the Sheets: The History of Sex, Scandal &amp; Society - a podcast from History Hit.