Welcome to the Bluestocking Salon!
Dearest Readers,
Welcome to the Bluestocking Salon, a blog for customers and friends of the Bas Bleu Catalog. Bas Bleu is French for "bluestocking," and refers to learned mid-eighteenth-century women (and men) who gathered in the great salons of London for intellectual conversation and witty banter. Since 1993, Bas Bleu Catalog has curated a collection of odd little books that make you smile, clever treasures that make you think, and literary gems that make you feel like you belong to a secret society of fellow readers. In that spirit, this space is designed to invite you to slow down, explore, and discover thoughtful literary fare, intriguing book suggestions, and inspiring gift guides.
Happy reading, fellow modern bluestockings!
An Easter Invitation to Wonder — from Bas Bleu
At Bas Bleu, we have always believed that a well-chosen book is more than a gift — it is an experience. This Easter, we’re celebrating the season the way we know best: through stories that awaken hope, beauty, reflection, and joy.
Easter arrives with quiet power. After the stillness of winter and the introspection of Lent, it brings renewal — longer days, fresh blossoms, and the reminder that light returns. Whether you observe Easter as a sacred celebration, a family tradition, or simply a welcome sign of spring, it is a season that invites us to begin again.
A Nation of Readers and Thinkers
America’s literary tradition is as diverse as its people. It includes timeless classics, bold new voices, and stories that challenge us to grow. At Bas Bleu, we curate books that inspire curiosity and celebrate thoughtful living — whether that means discovering American history, exploring cultural movements, or simply enjoying a beautifully written story.
Books Featured this Week as We Celebrate America
Pulitzer Prize-winning historian and journalist Rick Atkinson’s Revolution Trilogy offers a riveting view of the dawn of a nation and an important perspective on the demands of democracy. The Fate of the Day explores the middle years of the Revolution, as Franklin courts France in Paris and Washington struggles for resources in Pennsylvania.
Timed to mark the 250th anniversary of Paul Revere’s legendary journey, The Ride offers a gripping new account based on fresh research into letters, diaries, and firsthand accounts. Author Kostya Kennedy reveals that Revere’s ride was not a solo mission, but part of a complex, coordinated effort involving multiple riders, close calls, and surprising heroes. This dramatic retelling brings to life the untold details of April 1775, reshaping how we understand the roots of the American Revolution.
Celebrating America Through the Love of Books
America is a story — one that has been written, challenged, revised, and reimagined for generations. At Bas Bleu, we celebrate America by celebrating the ideas, voices, and curiosity that have shaped it, page by page.
From founding principles to modern perspectives, books have always played a powerful role in the American experience. They preserve history, spark conversation, and invite us to see the world — and ourselves — more clearly. Reading is one of the most personal expressions of freedom: the freedom to think, to question, and to explore.
Books Featured As We Celebrate America
This unique anthology, curated by the magazine’s poetry editor, features long-celebrated and emerging voices, from Walt Whitman and Robert Frost to Mary Oliver and Adrienne Rich
The powerful poems of hope, realism, and history are divided into three themes: National Anthems, Natural Lines, and Personal Mythologies
Spanning 3,000 years—from ancient epics to modern writings— this thought-provoking edition highlights key works like The Iliad, Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass, and A Brief History of Time, tracing the evolution of human thought through print
It’s sure to spark spirited debate among literary friends!
Ancestry & Ink
How to Begin Writing Your Own Memoir for Your Grandchildren
Explore the
New
Collection
We’re delighted to introduce our latest books, fresh from the shelves and ready to be explored. From compelling stories to insightful nonfiction, these new arrivals offer something special for every curious reader.
Learn how to better understand what our non-human friends are trying to convey to us with this fascinating exploration of animal communication.
A fictional comedy of manners that features members of Jane Austen’s family.
A Few New Favorites From Our Winter Catalog
This “true story of love, obsession, and shipwreck” is getting lots of buzz in literary circles!
A fast-paced, inventive murder mystery told in reverse.
An engrossing historical novel based on the real life of librarian Jessie Carson.
Daily Wordle-ers and crossword fanatics NEED this challenging collection from the New York Times.
Top Reads: Don’t Miss This
In honor of Black history month, Bas Bleu spotlights a heroic real-life pilot, Bessie Coleman who is the subject of one of our favorite recent historical fiction titles.
Why Make Puzzles?
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Judith Viorst has long been beloved by our Bas Bleu community for her funny, insightful books about aging. In her 90s now, she’s taking a humorous look at what she calls the “final fifth” of life. A beautiful balance of grief and levity, this touching book makes a lovely gift for a milestone birthday.
In 50 concise chapters, this fascinating book explores how history has been shaped by missteps. Through epic blunders—from a wrong turn from Franz Ferdinand triggering a war to Darwin’s consequential career shift after failing out of med school—the lively narrative reveals how the world’s course was often set by failure, not success.
Experience anew the wonder of Jesus from the point of view of the women whose lives he changed. This beautiful Lenten devotional presents forty enriching passages written from the perspective of Mary the mother of Jesus, Mary Magdalene, Susanna, and more, bookended by scripture and thought-provoking questions.
This beautiful coffee table book for literature lovers identifies 100 influential books that shaped religion, science, and literature. Spanning 3,000 years—from ancient epics to modern writings— this thought-provoking edition highlights key works like The Iliad, Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass, and A Brief History of Time, tracing the evolution of human thought through print. It’s sure to spark spirited debate among literary friends!
“You don’t have to be anything more than who you are right now.” “Discovering the truth about ourselves is a lifetime’s work, but it’s worth the effort.” With 365 heartfelt reflections from Fred Rogers, every day is a beautiful day in the neighborhood. Foreword by LeVar Burton.
This is the powerful true story of Pippa Latour, the last surviving British female spy of WWII. Parachuted into Nazi-occupied France, Latour gathered critical intel from German soldiers while selling them soap. A long-kept secret—even from her family—her heroic story is now revealed in this riveting posthumous memoir.
Quick! What’s the square root of 5,489? Learn how to quickly solve this and other brain teasers with this clever book. Its fun explanations and fascinating diagrams will help you become a walking calculator.”.
How did a single radio antenna save the Eiffel Tower from being demolished? How did an accident-prone housewife inspire the invention of the Band-Aid? And how did Napoleon’s hemorrhoids affect the outcome of the Battle of Waterloo? Sure to amuse and amaze, this historical potpourri outlines all sorts of remarkably serendipitous—and disastrously unlucky—occurrences that had big ramifications.
Warning: Keep a box of tissues close at hand for this moving love story. The bond between Masha, a half-wild rescue cat, and bestselling author Caleb Carr is truly inspiring and life-affirming. From fighting off a bear to nursing Carr’s physical ailments, Masha proved a fierce and faithful companion to her doting human. Animal lovers won’t want to miss this beautiful memoir.
Find the Perfect Gift
Why Bas Bleu?
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We handpick our features, so when you scroll through our website or flip through our catalog, you’re seeing items that have been selected with careful thought, not by an algorithm. We genuinely care about your interests and your experience.
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We support small publishers and big publisher backlists, not just the bestsellers, so by supporting us, you’re supporting the publishing industry.
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We know we can’t compete with the discount prices offered by companies like Amazon. It’s important to note that Amazon’s profits are so vast because of their investor base. They lose money on their discounts, just like we would. The difference? They can afford the loss. But we understand that filling your shelves can be costly. That’s why our Bas Bleu Society membership— for just $30 a year— gets you 10% off our regular-priced books, free standard shipping, and exclusive promotions. Sign up here!