Category Archives: British history

Jane Austen’s “Northanger Abbey” – Who Are Catherine Morland and the Tilneys?

What do we know of Catherine Morland and the Tilneys in Austen’s “Northanger Abbey”? Much of the description of the Abbey and of the Tilneys come to us from Austen’s heroine, Catherine Morland. Catherine comes to Bath with dreams of … Continue reading

Posted in British history, Great Britain, Jane Austen, Living in the Regency, real life tales, Regency era | Tagged , , , , | 3 Comments

Jane Austen’s “Northanger Abbey” – Literary References Found Within

Previously, I looked at the history of the writing of Austen’s “first” and “last” novel. Today, we will spend a bit of time with the themes addressed, literary references, etc. Later, we will have a closer look at the main characters … Continue reading

Posted in British history, Great Britain, Jane Austen, Living in the Regency, real life tales, Regency era | Tagged , | 4 Comments

Jane Austen’s “Northanger Abbey” – The Writing of the Novel

Today, a bit of background of the novel… Many Austen fans are not aware that NORTHANGER ABBEY was the first novel Jane Austen wrote. It was true that Austen started what were later to be titled SENSE AND SENSIBILITY and … Continue reading

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The Opera in Jane Austen’s London

I think you judge very wisely in putting off your London visit, and I am mistaken if it be not put off for some time. You speak with such noble resignation of Mrs. Jordan and the Opera House, that it … Continue reading

Posted in British history, Georgian England, Georgian Era, Jane Austen, Living in the Regency, Living in the UK, Regency era, theatre | Tagged , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

Origin of a Sea Shantie: “What Shall We Do with the Drunken Sailor?”

“What Shall We Do with the Drunken Sailor?” was a work song, mainly sung on ships with a large number of crewmen. According to Song Facts, it is one of the oldest Anglo-Saxon sea shanties, one sung by the Indiamen … Continue reading

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Courts of Chancery, Barristers, and Solicitors

In the 15th Century, the Court of Chancery or of “equity” developed. It was under the lord high chancellor and provided an outlet for cases where results were not obtainable in the courts of common law. The courts of common … Continue reading

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John Alden’s Influence on the Release of “The Courtship of Lord Blackhurst” + a Giveaway

My story, “The Courtship of Lord Blackhurst,” is heavily influenced by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow’s “The Courtship of Miles Standish.” Many of the characters names, for example, derive from the poem. However, in Longfellow’s narrative, John Alden speaks to Priscilla Mullins because his … Continue reading

Posted in American History, book excerpts, book release, British history, Dreamstone Publishing, excerpt, Georgian England, Georgian Era, giveaway, historical fiction, history, Living in the Regency, marriage, marriage customs, publishing, real life tales, Regency era, writing | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

Henry Wadsworth Longfellow’s Influence on “The Courtship of Lord Blackhurst” + a Giveaway

According to Henry Wadsworth Longfellow: A Maine Historical Society Website, “Henry Wadsworth Longfellow was a commanding figure in the cultural life of nineteenth-century America. Born in Portland, Maine, in 1807, he became a national literary figure by the 1850s, and a … Continue reading

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A Painting Inspired by a Jane Austen Novel? a Guest Post from Eliza Shearer

This post originally appeared on the Austen Authors’ blog on 2 February 2021. About year ago, on a visit to the Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum in Glasgow, I came across a delightful painting that immediately set my imagination flying.  … Continue reading

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Traveling by Stagecoach During the Regency Era

Stage and mail coaches traveled much faster than a private coach would do. They did not have to wait for changes, did not spend the night anywhere, and had relief drivers. Stage coaches also used their own horses, or horses under contract … Continue reading

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