Category Archives: British history

The Common Practice of Primogeniture in Regency England

Of late, I have been studying the laws and statutes that comprised the practice of primogeniture in Regency England. In truth, I can only work on the project for a few hours each day for some of the material is … Continue reading

Posted in Act of Parliament, Anglo-Saxons, British history, business, commerce, Georgian England, history, Living in the Regency, marriage customs, primogenture, Scotland, titles of aristocracy, Wales | Tagged , , , , , | 3 Comments

Special Licences in Regency Era

In 1753, the Hardwick Marriage Act passed, and Georgian couples in England and Wales could choose among three ways to marry: with the reading of the banns, by a common (sometimes referred to as an “ordinary”) licence, and by special … Continue reading

Posted in British history, Church of England, George IV, Georgian England, Georgian Era, Jane Austen, Levirate marriage, Living in the Regency, marriage, marriage customs, marriage licenses, Regency era, Wales | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 6 Comments

The Effects of Primogeniture on Family Dynamics

 As a writer of historical fiction set in England during the Regency era, I am constantly dealing with the ramifications of the practice and the law of primogeniture. In primogeniture, the first born legitimate son is the sole inheritor of … Continue reading

Posted in British history, eBooks, Great Britain, history, Living in the UK, primogenture | Tagged , , , , , | 2 Comments

Using Austen as a Historical Resource, a Guest Post from Don Jacobson

This post originally appeared on Austen Authors on January 30, 2019. Enjoy!  One of my favorite books is Natalie Zemon Davis’ The Return of Martin Guerre (1983) which heralded the advent of a new historical school: that of subaltern history—essentially the history of sergeants … Continue reading

Posted in American History, Austen Authors, book excerpts, British history, Georgian England, Georgian Era, historical fiction, history, Industrial Revolution, Jane Austen, Living in the Regency, peerage, political stance, reading habits, real life tales, Regency era, research, Vagary | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Using Austen as a Historical Resource, a Guest Post from Don Jacobson

A Round-up of Stories in 2019 and Previews of Coming Attractions

Despite a recent diagnosis of diabetes, my 2019 has been going exceptionally well, and the writing has been flowing out of me, of late. In 2018, I caught the flu, which turned into bronchitis and then into pneumonia. I was … Continue reading

Posted in Austen Authors, Black Opal Books, book excerpts, book release, books, British history, eBooks, excerpt, Georgian England, Georgian Era, historical fiction, Jane Austen, Living in the Regency, Pride and Prejudice, publishing, Regency era, Regency romance, trilogy, Vagary, writing | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on A Round-up of Stories in 2019 and Previews of Coming Attractions

The Etiquette of “Visiting” and How Jane Austen Used It as a Plot Device

In the 1800s, morning calls or visiting upon a household developed a certain protocol, and those who broke protocol were often shunned. First a calling card was presented to the household’s servant. It was common for those who came to … Continue reading

Posted in British history, Jane Austen, Regency era, writing | Tagged , , , , , | 7 Comments

The Rice Portrait of Jane Austen? a Guest Post from Alexa Adams

This post originally appeared on Austen Authors on January 25, 2019. Enjoy!  How clearly I recall writing this blog post in March of 2011. I was six months pregnant with my daughter and spent the bulk of the morning at a lab … Continue reading

Posted in British history, Georgian England, Georgian Era, Guest Post, history, Jane Austen, Living in the Regency, real life tales, Regency era, Regency personalities, research | Tagged , , , , , , , | Comments Off on The Rice Portrait of Jane Austen? a Guest Post from Alexa Adams

Clandestine Weddings and the Release of “Lady Chandler’s Sister” + a Giveaway

Clandestine/Irregular Weddings in Scotland  A clandestine wedding plays a key role in solving the mystery that occurs in my latest Regency romantic suspense, Lady Chandler’s Sister: Book 3 the Twins’ Trilogy. But exactly what constituted a clandestine or irregular marriage during … Continue reading

Posted in Black Opal Books, book release, British history, eBooks, George IV, Georgian England, Georgian Era, giveaway, historical fiction, Ireland, marriage, marriage customs, publishing, real life tales, Regency romance, research, romance, Scotland, suspense, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Scottish Smugglers and the Release of “Lady Chandler’s Sister, Book 3 of the Twins’ Trilogy” + a Giveaway

 Most of the smuggling trade was found in England’s southern shires, but that did not mean such was the only area of Great Britain with a sturdy smuggler contingent. The movement of goods from coast to coast was only a … Continue reading

Posted in book excerpts, book release, British history, Georgian England, Georgian Era, Great Britain, historical fiction, Living in the Regency, political stance, real life tales, Regency era, Regency romance, romance, suspense, trilogy, writing | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Smuggling as a Plot Point in My Latest Release, “Lady Chandler’s Sister, Book 3 of the Twins’s Trilogy” + a Giveaway

 One of the “cottage” industries of the late 1700s and early 1800s in England and Scotland was smuggling. This was not just a single individual stealing a keg or two and then selling it to his neighbors; these were operations … Continue reading

Posted in Black Opal Books, book excerpts, book release, British history, eBooks, England, excerpt, food and drink, Georgian England, Georgian Era, giveaway, Great Britain, historical fiction, Living in the Regency, political stance, real life tales, Regency era, Regency romance, research, Scotland, tea | Tagged , , , , , | 2 Comments