Category Archives: British history

Jack Sheppard, Extraordinary Escape Artist, but Mediocre Thief

Jack Sheppard, Extraordinary Thief A favorite figure in verse, plays, and burlesque, John Sheppard was an 18th Century English thief. Born in Stepney on 4 March 1702, Sheppard spent several years (from the age of six) in the workhouse in … Continue reading

Posted in British history, Georgian Era, Great Britain, legends and myths, Living in the UK, real life tales | Tagged , , , , | 5 Comments

Eccentrics of the Georgian Era: Richard Barry, 7th Earl of Barrymore

Eccentrics of the Georgian Period: Richard Barry, 7th Earl of Barrymore For today, we’ll take an look at another of the Prince Regent’s inner circle, a man known by one and all as “Hellgate,” Richard Barry, 7th Earl of Barrymore. Fast … Continue reading

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Do You Speak Jane Austen? Part Three

The last third of the alphabet was a bit of a challenge. The letters “x” and “z” were less than cooperative. I searched Pride and Prejudice, Sense and Sensibility, and Mansfield Park for the letters, but was, generally, unsuccessful. “X” … Continue reading

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Nomenclature of Addressing the Nobility or the Aristocracy

The Nomenclature of Nineteenth Century Address How did one keep all those numerous titles straight when he addressed the members of the aristocracy and the titled? Here are some of the MANY differences of which one needed to be aware: … Continue reading

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The Christmas Eve Truce of 1914

The Christmas truce (German: Weihnachtsfrieden; French: Trêve de Noël) was a series of widespread but unofficial ceasefires along the Western Front around Christmas 1914. In the week leading up to the holiday, German and British soldiers crossed trenches to exchange … Continue reading

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UK “Real” Estate: The Isle of Portland and Nanny Diamond Fairies

The Isle of Portland and Nanny Diamond Fairies The Isle of Portland is a limestone tied island, 6 kilometres (4 mi) long by 2.4 kilometres (1.5 mi) wide, in the English Channel. Portland is 8 kilometres (5 mi) south of … Continue reading

Posted in British history, customs and tradiitons, Dorset, Living in the Regency, real life tales, spooky tales | Tagged , , | 2 Comments

Celebrating a Regency Era Christmas on the Christmas Party Blog Hop + a Giveaway of “Christmas at Pemberley”

The Christmas Season is the time for merry-making and parties… So come and join some wonderful authors (and their characters) for an Online Virtual Party!  Browse through a variety of Blogs for a veritable feast of entertainment! (And as with any good … Continue reading

Posted in book excerpts, British history, Great Britain, Jane Austen, Living in the Regency, Regency era | Tagged , , , , , | 59 Comments

Celebrating Christmastide

Celebrating Christmastide Christmastide (also Christmas or the Christmas season) is one of the seasons of the liturgical year of most Christian churches. It tends to be defined (with slight variations) as the period from Christmas Eve to the Epiphany. This … Continue reading

Posted in British history, customs and tradiitons, Great Britain, Jane Austen, Living in the Regency, Regency era | Tagged , , , , | 2 Comments

The Open Christmas Letter 1914

In the lead up to Christmas 1914, there were several peace initiatives. The Open Christmas Letter was a public message for peace addressed “To the Women of Germany and Austria,” signed by a group of 101 British women suffragettes at … Continue reading

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A Resurgence of “St. Jane,” the Never-Ending Reverence to All Things Austen

A Resurgence of Jane Austen Several people believe Colin Firth’s stellar two-year “flirt” with Oscar – first with a spectacular performance in “A Single Man” and then in “The King’s Speech” – led to a resurgence of Jane Austen’s popularity. … Continue reading

Posted in book excerpts, book release, British history, Jane Austen | Tagged , , | 9 Comments