Monthly Archives: July 2025

Was the Term “Romance” Used to Describe Such Stories as We Think of Them Today in the Regency Era

First, we should define romance. The Encyclopedia Britannica tells us, “Romanticism can be seen as a rejection of the precepts of order, calm, harmony, balance, idealization, and rationality that typified Classicism in general and late 18th-century Neoclassicism in particular. It was also to some extent … Continue reading

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When and When Not to Wear Boots in the Regency Era

Admittedly, several fashion illustrations for men of the Regency era show the man wearing a blue coat, beige pantaloons and boots. This has been described as the fashionable look for gentlemen. Because of this, many authors seem to think such an outfit was suitable … Continue reading

Posted in British history, England, fashion, Georgian England, Georgian Era, history, Living in the Regency, real life tales, Regency era, research | Tagged , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

More Questions (and Hopefully Less Confusion) on Women and Inheritance During the Georgian Era

Question #1: Is it correct that the husband can serve as the peeress’s proxy in the House of Lords? I did discover some other interesting facts. There have been duchesses in their own right, and the husband can vote for … Continue reading

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Question from a Reader/Writer Regarding the Pump Room in Bath

Question: Somehow, I expect I know the answer to this already. Sigh. In a scene I am writing set in the Pump Room, I have described a marble fountain dispensing the waters, only to go, “Wait a minute, is that … Continue reading

Posted in aristocracy, British history, buildings and structures, England, fashion, Georgian Era, history, Jane Austen, legacy, legends | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

What Did the Term “Half-Pay Officers” Mean During the Regency? And What of “Honor”?

I thought addressing this recent question from a reader appropriate for the Memorial Day Weekend. Question from a reader: I am confused about what it meant to be an officer on half-pay. Can you shed any light on this topic? … Continue reading

Posted in aristocracy, British history, Georgian England, Georgian Era, historical fiction, history, Jane Austen, Living in the Regency, military, Napoleonic Wars, Pride and Prejudice, real life tales, Regency era, research, terminology | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Anthony William Hall, the Man Who Would Be King

In 1931, a former Shropshire police inspector claimed to the rightful heir to the British throne. He was determined to be King Anthony and to displace King George V. His declaration provoked panic at the palace when two doctors refused … Continue reading

Posted in British history, kings and queens | Tagged , , , , , | 6 Comments

During the Georgian Era, Would a Vicar or Clergyman Take an Oath?

Question from a Reader: Is there a term for when a man becomes a vicar, such as getting sworn in or taking his vows, making an oath or something? Answer: The man is appointed to the position by the one … Continue reading

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When You Discover One of Your Great Grandfather’s Has a Town Named After Him

Welcome to Marlinton, West Virginia. What might you ask would have me writing about a small town in rural West Virginia? Well, the truth of it is I have once again been updating my Ancestry.com files. This town is named … Continue reading

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What Did It Mean to Be a “Gentleman” in Jane Austen’s England?

The word “genteel” is an adjective, meaning polite, refined, or respectable, often in an affected or ostentatious way. Its roots can be found in the late 16th century (in the sense ‘fashionable, stylish’): from French gentil ‘well-born’. From the 17th century … Continue reading

Posted in Austen Authors, British history, customs and tradiitons, film adaptations, Georgian England, Georgian Era, Jane Austen, Living in the Regency, marriage customs, Persuasion, Pride and Prejudice, real life tales, Regency era | Tagged , , , , , | Comments Off on What Did It Mean to Be a “Gentleman” in Jane Austen’s England?

Giraffes in London During the Regency Era

I had a recent question from a reader who came across a book by my fellow North Carolina author, Deb Marlowe, called An Unexpected Encounter. In it, the heroine encounters stuffed giraffes, and she asked me (why she did not … Continue reading

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