Pioneering Life of Mary Wortley Montagu: Scientist and Feminist

Lady Mary Wortley Montagu, an aristocrat and early feminist, inoculated her daughter against smallpox, leading to its eradication and preventing millions of deaths. She also collaborated with Alexander Pope on a series of poems, making her a household name. Her marriage was stale, and she fell for someone young enough to be her son, but her relationship failed. She returned home to London to die, and her son-in-law had become Prime Minister.

\n Format: Hardback
\n Length: 232 pages
\n Publication date: 30 March 2021
\n Publisher: Pen & Sword Books Ltd
\n

In April 1721, a smallpox epidemic was ravaging England, and Lady Mary Wortley Montagu, aware of the potential lifesaving benefits of inoculation, made a courageous decision. Having personally witnessed this process in Turkey while serving as the wife of the British ambassador, she understood the opposition she would face from doctors, politicians, and clerics. Despite the risks, Mary chose to inoculate her 3-year-old daughter, making her the first person protected in the Western world. Her bold move ultimately led to the eradication of smallpox and the prevention of millions of deaths.

However, Mary's contributions extended beyond scientific advocacy. She was a prominent figure in the intellectual and social circles of her time, mingling with renowned politicians, writers, artists, and thinkers. She was also an early feminist, penning powerful and provocative essays on the position of women. Her close friendship with the poet Alexander Pope, during which they collaborated on a series of poems, propelled her to fame as an "It Girl." Their friendship, however, soured, and Pope used his pen to vilify her publicly.

Born into an aristocratic family, Mary defied societal expectations by eloping with Edward Wortley Montagu, whom she did not love, to avoid being forced into an unwanted marriage. As her marriage grew stale in middle age, she fell for a younger man, unaware of his bisexuality. Following this relationship's failure, Mary embarked on a new life abroad, narrowly escaping the coercive control of an Italian conman. After spending twenty-two years abroad, she returned home to London, where she passed away. Interestingly, the son-in-law she had once dismissed had risen to the position of Prime Minister.

Lady Mary Wortley Montagu's life was a remarkable blend of scientific achievements, intellectual pursuits, social activism, and personal struggles. Her courageous actions in the face of opposition, her friendships with influential figures, and her unconventional personal choices continue to inspire and intrigue us today.

\n Weight: 646g\n
Dimension: 165 x 240 x 32 (mm)\n
ISBN-13: 9781526779380\n \n