a woman of opinion

Sean Lusk

I will be a thousand different Marys, and in this way, I will find the one I want to be...'' Lady Mary Wortley Montagu longs for adventure, freedom, and love, believing that only by living truly can she escape the haunting raven of death... An aristocratic woman in 18th-century England is expected to behave in certain ways. But Mary never lets society's expectations stifle her, writing popular poems and essays advocating for equality, as well as countless, often scandalous, letters to her many influential friends. However, Mary wants more of the world. Using her charm and connections, she arranges a job offer for her husband as ambassador to the Ottoman Empire. She travels to Constantinople, finally discovering the independent life she dreams of. When she sees Turkish women inoculating children against smallpox, she resolves to bring this miraculous cure back to England. However, Mary's reputation is further tarnished. Her inability to abide by the rules, her outspoken views on women's rights, and her relentless pursuit of love and desire have earned her powerful enemies. While Mary tries to preserve her name by arranging for the posthumous publication of her memoirs, her daughter works against her, fearing what they might contain... An illuminating and beautiful account of the tragic, yet unforgettable, yet extraordinary life of the pioneering feminist poet and activist, Mary Wortley Montagu.