At 4:30pm CDT on Thursday, October 6th, Dr. Liza Blake from the University of Toronto to tell the story of the polymath Margaret Cavendish, Duchess of Newcastle (1623–1673), and her work to craft a reputation by carefully managing the distribution of her writing.

DR. LIZA BLAKE, HOW A 17TH-CENTURY WOMAN WRITER CAN REVITALIZE THE HISTORY OF THE BOOK

In an era when many women refused to put their writing into print, Cavendish not only insisted on print as the best medium for her drama, philosophy, poetry, and science fiction, but also was meticulously involved in her books' creation and customization, both during and after the printing process. In addition to sharing her findings about the many ways Cavendish worked to make each book its own unique object—including custom bindings, annotations with "glitter pen," frontispieces, and materials included only in copies going to distinguished recipients—Blake will argue that focusing on Cavendish and her books has the potential to reorient the fields of early modern book history and textual bibliography.

Register w/ Eventbrite to attend in person: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/pforzheimer-lecture-series-featuring-dr-liza-blake-tickets-415409640417

Stream live on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eBxZt8hgPxY

For more on the Harry Ransom Center and its programs: https://www.hrc.utexas.edu/programs/