Category Archives: British history

A Walk Through Green Park from Guest Author, Joana Starnes

 This is a repeat performance from the archives  from my dear friend, Joana Starnes, who gives us a brief look at London’s Green Park, which plays a pivotal role in Ms. Starnes’s Austen-inspired The Second Chance: A Pride and Prejudice/Sense and … Continue reading

Posted in book excerpts, British history, buildings and structures, giveaway, Jane Austen, Uncategorized, writing | Tagged , , , | 66 Comments

18th Century Folk Tune: “English Country Garden”

English Country Garden is well known in the United Kingdom, English Country Gardens was originally a Morris tune (that is a tune usually played on the accordion or violin to accompany traditional English Morris dancing).  The tune was collected by … Continue reading

Posted in ballads, British history, music, Napoleonic Wars, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , | 7 Comments

Announcing More Winners from Regina Jeffers’s “A Dance with Mr. Darcy” Giveaway

 These are the winners from the various giveaways associated with the release of A Dance with Mr. Darcy. All winners were chosen by Random.org. Each date will have two winners of eBooks of A Dance with Mr. Darcy listed and will … Continue reading

Posted in book excerpts, book release, British history, Church of England, eBooks, Georgian Era, giveaway, historical fiction, history, Jane Austen, marriage, marriage customs, Pride and Prejudice, romance, Scotland, servant life, Vagary | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

Why Do We Call a Toilet a “John”?

 Sir John Harington was a courtier, translator, a not so successful poet of the Elizabethan era. Harington’s father married an illegitimate daughter of Henry VIII. His second wife was attendant to Princess Elizabeth, and Queen Elizabeth I stood as godmother … Continue reading

Posted in British history, Elizabethan drama, poetry, real life tales, Tudors | Tagged , , , , , , , | 10 Comments

Georgian Era Commerce – Part II: The West India Docks and the London Docks

This is the second part of a look at the commercial trades during the Georgian Era. If you missed part one, you will find it HERE.  The cargo-handling docks of the early 1800s included the West India Dock, the London … Continue reading

Posted in British history, commerce, Georgian England, Great Britain, Living in the Regency, Regency era | Tagged , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

The Legend of Handfasting + Release of “A Dance with Mr. Darcy” + Excerpt + Giveaway

 Last Tuesday, we looked at the formal betrothals known as “handfasting,” But what of the mythical handfasting ceremonies purported by popular literature? In the late 18th Century, an idea arose in Scotland that “handfasting” did not refer to a betrothal, but … Continue reading

Posted in Austen Authors, book excerpts, book release, books, British history, customs and tradiitons, eBooks, excerpt, giveaway, historical fiction, Jane Austen, legends and myths, Living in the Regency, marriage customs, marriage licenses, Pride and Prejudice, Scotland, Vagary | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 21 Comments

Brother Can You Spare a Dime? a Guest Post from Brenda J. Webb + a Giveaway

We have had LOTS of interest in this post, so Brenda Webb and I thought we would highlight it again today. Brenda has generously added a giveaway to the post. Comment below to be part of the giveaway of two … Continue reading

Posted in British history, Georgian England, Regency era, tradtions | Tagged , , , , | 44 Comments

Chanticleer International Book Award Finalist “The Prosecution of Mr. Darcy’s Cousin”

When I was writing my most recent cozy mystery, The Prosecution of Mr. Darcy’s Cousin, I spent many hours in research on the Regency era court system for a long trial scene occurs within the book. Correct verbiage and procedures were … Continue reading

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

Truth Stranger Than Fiction, a Guest Post from Jennifer Petkus

This post originally appeared on Austen Authors, but I thought it worthy and wanted to share it with others. If you do not know Jennifer Petkus’s works, check them out.  Truth is stranger than fiction, they say, which I’ve never … Continue reading

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Overview of the Elizabethan and Restoration Eras

This piece is not meant to be a deep look into the history of the Elizabethan and Restoration eras, but rather an overview of the periods to explain future pieces on the literature of the times. This is a continuation of … Continue reading

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