2-996-944 - Heritage Art/Heritage Images

Monsieur, pardon si je vous gêne un peu..., 1844. - 'Monsieur, pardon si je vous gêne un peu...mais vous comprenez qu'écrivant en ce moment un roman nouveau, je dois consulter une foule d'auteurs anciens!...' (Le Monsieur à part.) 'Des auteurs anciens!...parbleu elle aurait bien dû les consulter de leur vivant, car elle a dû être leur contemporaine!...'. Lady author: 'Monsieur, pardon me if I get in your way a little...but you understand, writing a new novel, I must consult a host of ancient authors!...' (Man, aside:) 'Ancient authors!... By golly, she should have consulted them while they were alive, she must have been their contemporary!...'. Satirical criticism of 'bluestockings': women with interests beyond housework and childcare. Female authors were often depicted as mannish and ugly - the implication being that their intellectual output was just as objectionable as their looks. From Les Bas-bleus, no. 13.