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!
In Search of the Perfect Man:
Jane Austen’s Heroes
Those of us with an affinity for Jane Austen’s novels—the sly wit, the razor-sharp social commentary, the forgiving empire-waist dresses—also have a soft spot for Austen’s leading men. But while these half-dozen gentlemen all share a strong sense of honor and an affinity for bright, independent-minded women, they aren’t interchangeable. So which Austen hero is right for you?
Puffin in Bloom Boxed Book Set by Jane Austen
Three of beloved author Jane Austen’s timeless classics—Pride and Prejudice, Emma, and Sense and Sensibility—are brought together in a stunning gift box, featuring beautifully illustrated covers and slipcase. This elegant set makes a lovely gift for established Janeites as well as your readers just being introduced to her work.
Jane Austen Stacked Books Planter
Sense and Sensibility, Persuasion, Pride and Prejudice—this ceramic stack of books is a lovely place for a small plant or succulent to flourish, just as Jane Austen’s masterpieces have flourished for generations. Has a drainage hole with rubber stopper
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
“Curiosity Challenge for Midlife”
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.
Turning the Page Together
Winter reminds us that there’s beauty in stillness—and in the stories that sustain us through it. So pour another cup, pull the blanket a little tighter, and let the next chapter begin.
From all of us at Bas Bleu, we wish you a cozy, book-filled winter season.
Customer Favorites
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Customer Favorites *
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!