Aggravating ladies : $b Being a list of works published under the pseudonym of "a lady," with preliminary suggestions on the art of describing books bibliographically

A curious guide for anyone fascinated by the mysteries of Victorian publishing, this work opens with a straightforward declaration: “Being.” The author, a diligent bibliographer, has set out to untangle the web of titles that appear simply under the label “A Lady,” offering a systematic approach to describing such books with precision. Along the way, the writer shares the practical frustrations of tracing anonymous women’s voices, providing helpful rules for cataloguing, punctuation, and the subtle clues that reveal an author’s identity.

The prose blends scholarly detail with a wry sense of humor, as the narrator admits that these “aggravating ladies” often hide behind a convenient pseudonym, making the search both demanding and rewarding. Readers will discover step‑by‑step advice on constructing accurate bibliographic entries, from the title page to the printer’s style, while gaining insight into the broader cultural context that encouraged women to conceal their names. It is a compact, engaging tutorial for librarians, collectors, and anyone intrigued by the hidden stories behind nineteenth‑century publications.