Category Archives: British history

Major General Adam Stephen, Real-Life Model for Doctor Spurlock in My Tale, “Captain Stanwick’s Bride”

Posted on March 9, 2022 by Regina Jeffers

In my tale “Captain Stanwick’s Bride,” I based Elizabeth Spurlock on my own 8th great-grandmother, a Powhatan Indian Princess. But where did I find the inspiration for the lady’s husband? Easy enough to answer. I am from West Virginia originally, … Continue reading →

Posted in America, American History, Appalachia, British history, British Navy, West Virginia | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Major General Adam Stephen, Real-Life Model for Doctor Spurlock in My Tale, “Captain Stanwick’s Bride”

Prince Albert, Queen Victoria’s “Visionary”

Posted on March 2, 2022 by Regina Jeffers

To really understand Prince Albert’s role in British history, one must know more of his early life. Albert Francis Charles Augustus Emmanuel of Saxe-Coburg-Gotha was born on 26 August 1819 at Schloss Rosenau, in Bavaria, the younger son of the duke … Continue reading →

Posted in Act of Parliament, British history, Great Britain, titles of aristocracy, Victorian era | Tagged , , , | 6 Comments

Turmoil in Europe and Queen Victoria’s England

Posted on February 28, 2022 by Regina Jeffers

Mourning was one of the great constants in Queen Victoria’s life. The Queen and her beloved Albert lost his maternal step grandmother, Princess Karoline Amalie of Hesse-Kassel, in February 1848. In her journal, Queen Victoria wrote, “My poor Albert is quite … Continue reading →

Posted in Act of Parliament, British history, commerce, Great Britain, history, real life tales, Victorian era | Tagged , , , , , | 2 Comments

The Tolpuddle Martyrs, Changing the Face of Employment Rights in Victorian England

Posted on February 23, 2022 by Regina Jeffers

  This year is the 181st anniversary of when six Dorset farm labourers were sent to an Australian penal colony, but their ‘crimes’ helped change the face of employment rights for generations to come – and it all began in … Continue reading →

Posted in British history, commerce, Dorset, history, Victorian era | Tagged , , , , , , | 6 Comments

The Paston Letters, the Earliest Known Archive of Private Correspondence in English

Posted on February 11, 2022 by Regina Jeffers

The Paston Letters is a remarkable collection of letters between different members of the Paston family, their staff and their friends. In truth, the collection might better be referred to as the Paston Archive, as the medieval section contains many … Continue reading →

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Caister Castle, Only English Example of a “Wasserburg-Style Moated Castle”

Posted on February 9, 2022 by Regina Jeffers

A 90-foot tower is all that remains of Caister Castle, which was originally commissioned in 1432 by Sir John Fastolf, who served bravely during the 100 Year War. However, from the tower, visitors can view the castle ruins and the … Continue reading →

Posted in Age of Chaucer, British history, buildings and structures | Tagged , , , , , | 6 Comments

“To See a Fine Lady on a White Horse”

Posted on February 2, 2022 by Regina Jeffers

Ride a cock-horse to Banbury Cross,To see a fine lady upon a white horse;Rings on her fingers and bells on her toes,And she shall have music wherever she goes. [I. Opie and P. Opie. The Oxford Dictionary of Nursery Rhymes. Oxford: … Continue reading →

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Governesses in the Regency Era (Part 4)

Posted on January 31, 2022 by Regina Jeffers

This post originally appeared on The Jane Austen Book Club blog. Enjoy! Parents of the 19th Century required different skills from their governesses. Some governesses taught only a few subjects each day. Others oversaw the children throughout the day. Most … Continue reading →

Posted in Austen Authors, book excerpts, book release, British history, Christmas, excerpt, Georgian England, Georgian Era, historical fiction, holidays, Jane Austen, Living in the Regency, Pride and Prejudice, publishing, Regency era, Regency romance, Vagary, writing | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

Being a “Gentleman” in Regency England

Posted on January 26, 2022 by Regina Jeffers

 In 1583 Sir Thomas Smith wrote: “One who can live idly and without manual labour and will bear the port (deportment) and countenance of a gentleman, he shall be taken for a gentleman.” But what does “being a gentleman” entail? … Continue reading →

Posted in British history, customs and tradiitons, George Wickham, Georgian England, Great Britain, historical fiction, history, Jane Austen, Living in the Regency, Persuasion, Pride and Prejudice, primogenture, Regency era | Tagged , , , , | 6 Comments

What Do We Know of “Love” in Pride and Prejudice?

Posted on January 21, 2022 by Regina Jeffers

Most who have read the book consider Pride and Prejudice a love story, but how often does Austen actually used the word “love” in the novel? And is there more than one kind of love expressed? Let us see… In … Continue reading →

Posted in British history, Great Britain, Jane Austen, Living in the Regency, Regency era | Tagged , , , , | 5 Comments