Category Archives: British history

The Significance of Books and of Reading in Jane Austen’s Novels, Guest Post from Lauren Gilbert

  The Significance of Books and Reading in Jane Austen’s Novels By Lauren Gilbert  Jane Austen was a reader.  She read widely.  We know she enjoyed novels; she was a subscriber to Fanny Burney’s third novel, Cecilia or Memoirs of … Continue reading

Posted in Austen Authors, books, British history, family, George Wickham, Georgian England, Georgian Era, Guest Blog, Guest Post, Jane Austen, literature, Living in the Regency, Pride and Prejudice, reading | Tagged , , , , , , | 8 Comments

Princess Helena’s Marriage Splits Queen Victoria’s Family

Princess Helena chose to marry Prince Christian, one of Schleswig-Holstein-Sonderburg-Augustenburgs. On the maternal side, Prince Christian held ties to a Danish noble family, as well as to the British royal family. His grandmother was the granddaughter of Frederick, King George II’s … Continue reading

Posted in British history, family, history, kings and queens, marriage, political stance, Victorian era | Tagged , , , , , , | Comments Off on Princess Helena’s Marriage Splits Queen Victoria’s Family

The Trauma of PTSD and How It Plays Out in The Prosecution of Mr. Darcy’s Cousin, a 2016 Finalist for the Chanticleer International Book Awards

In my The Prosecution of Mr. Darcy’s Cousin: A Pride and Prejudice Mystery, Darcy’s cousin Major General Fitzwilliam (the former Colonel Fitzwilliam from Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice) suffers from what we would now call “PTSD.” During the Regency there … Continue reading

Posted in Austen Authors, British history, Great Britain, Jane Austen, Living in the Regency, Regency era | Tagged , , , , , , | 14 Comments

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