Bluestockings

annechen67 and I were talking Victoriana (or more like ersatz Wilhelmiana), and 'bluestocking' came up. So naturally, I had to Google for it:

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( A straightforward history )

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( Wikipedia, with some interesting references )

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( A bookstore-heir to the concept )

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( American Heritage Dictionary, via Bartleby )

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( From 'Bas Bleu' bookseller, with hotlinks of tasty quotes )

ETA: The Nine Living Muses of Great Britain (ca. 1779)