What is a Bluestocking?

In the early 1750s Mrs Elizabeth Montagu and others started a women's literary discussion group, a revolutionary step away from traditional mindless women's activities. They invited various people to attend, including a botanist, translator and publisher called Benjamin Stillingfleet. He wasn't rich enough to have the proper formal dress which included black silk stockings. So he attended in his normal clothes, wearing blue worsted stockings. This started a trend. The husband of one of the group members was Admiral Edward Boscawen, and he derisively referred to the meetings as the "Blue-Stocking Society". "Bluestocking" then became a term to describe literary/intellectual women.

Monday, June 25, 2007

I LOVE BOOKS

On my adventure to So Cal I always stop at a wonderful thrift store in Ventura. It has a wall that is covered in books, it is pretty overwhelming, but I always come home with a few treasures to add to the library. One that I picked up is Don't Let's Go to the Dogs Tonight, An African Childhood, by Alexandra Fuller. This is a memoir about a girl and her families life in Southern Africa. A place full of adversity, beauty, heartache and at times laughter even in the most dire circumstances. I have not finished but I am enjoying reading about a place where my preconceived ideas are inaccurate. I'll let you know what I think when I finish. Happy Reading.
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1 comment:

Anne said...

Hi Jen,

Monica told me about your blog. Just wanted to say that I read this and loved it. I have her 2nd one on my nightstand crying to be read. In case your'e interested, her second one was in the bargain area at B&N. I got mine fron the librasry though. Happy Reading!

June 28, 2007 at 2:02 PM

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