Elizabeth Montagu, the queen of the bluestockings, Volumes 1 and 2 : $b Her correspondence from 1720 to 1761

This two‑volume set brings together the lively correspondence of Elizabeth Montagu, the celebrated hostess of the 18th‑century Blue‑Stocking circle, covering the years 1720 to 1761. Through her own words and the replies of friends, readers hear the rhythms of salon conversation, debates on literature, and the subtle politics of taste that shaped an era. The letters are presented in a readable arrangement that highlights everyday details—fashion, food prices, and social customs—while still echoing the intellectual vigor of the age.

Beyond Montagu herself, the collection spills into the lives of figures such as the Dowager Marchioness of Bath, Gilbert West, and even the French intelligentsia, giving a panoramic view of trans‑national dialogue. Listeners discover how personal concerns—marriage prospects, health, and household management—intersected with larger cultural currents, making the letters a vivid window into both domestic and public spheres. For anyone curious about the formation of modern literary society, these letters offer an intimate, unfiltered glimpse of a network that helped shape British and European thought.