Category Archives: Great Britain

John Spilsbury and the First Jigsaw Puzzle

 Okay, over Christmas I gave and received several jigsaw puzzles. I do puzzles on my Kindle Fire every evening. The presents I gave were those personalized puzzles where a person receives a puzzle of his or her hometown or community … Continue reading

Posted in American History, British history, family, Great Britain, toys and games, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , | 6 Comments

Ever Been on a “Cook’s Tour”?

Most of you are likely to think a “cook’s tour” has something to do with a chef’s culinary excellence, but the phrase actually has its roots in the world’s oldest and largest travel organization.   Thomas Cook was a 32-year old … Continue reading

Posted in British history, commerce, Great Britain, Industrial Revolution, Living in the UK, real life tales, Victorian era | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

Albert Edward, Prince of Wales, a Disappointment to Queen Victoria

Given Queen Victoria and Prince Albert’s physical infatuation with each other, their first child, Princess Victoria, called Vicky, was born nine months after their wedding. The queen was busy with her duties as monarch and could spare little time for … Continue reading

Posted in British history, Church of England, family, Great Britain, marriage, royalty, Victorian era | Tagged , , , , , , | 9 Comments

Reginald Christie, 10 Rilling Place Serial Killer

 John Reginald Halliday Christie, known to his family and friends as Reg Christie, was an English serial killer active during the 1940s and early 1950s and is the subject a new film based upon his life of crime. Personally, the … Continue reading

Posted in British history, film, Great Britain, history | Tagged , , , | 8 Comments

Pre-Elizabethan Drama: Folk Plays

Folk drama is a remote form of oral literature. The early forms included dancers wearing masks portraying animal and human characters. Eventually, speeches and songs were added. The action and the dramatic imitation became the prominent part of these early … Continue reading

Posted in British history, drama, Great Britain, medieval, religion, theatre | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 6 Comments

On Ilkla Moor Baht ‘at, Yorkshire Unofficial Anthem

The traditional English folk song, ‘On Ilkla Moor Baht ‘at,’comes from the County of Yorkshire, and it is written in Yorkshire dialect. In The Yorkshire Dictionary (Arnold Kellett, 2002) says the dialect used in the song is representative of the area … Continue reading

Posted in ballads, British history, customs and tradiitons, Great Britain, history, legends, music | Tagged , , , , | 11 Comments

An Old-Fashioned Holiday Season? Perhaps Not!! Be Careful For What You Wish

An Old-Fashioned Holiday Season…Or, Perhaps Not!! Be Careful For What You Wish. Have we lost the meaning of the holidays? As many are conserving their energies for Black Friday shopping tomorrow, others are wondering how we lost the true meaning … Continue reading

Posted in British history, food and drink, Great Britain, holidays, real life tales | Tagged , , , , | 2 Comments

The British Royal Navy and Jane Austen

In referring to the cult-like following of those who extolled all things involving Admiral Horatio Nelson, Jane Austen once wrote, “I am sick of Nelson.” Yet, the author always appreciated the lives of men in the Royal Navy. Two of … Continue reading

Posted in British history, Great Britain, Jane Austen, Living in the Regency, Regency era | Tagged , , | 8 Comments

Thomas More’s Life and Literature and Being a Reformation Martyr

 I am continued my journey through my undergraduate degree by looking at English literature through the ages. Today we have Sir Thomas More. Thomas More was born on Milk Street, London on February 7, 1478, son of Sir John More, … Continue reading

Posted in British history, Great Britain, history, kings and queens, religion, research, Tudor, Tudors | Tagged , , , , , , | 3 Comments

Jane Austen’s Publishing Options, or Being a Female Writer in the Regency Era

Publishing Options for Women During Jane Austen’s Lifetime I thought it time to revisit this post for several people of late have asked me of Austen and self-publishing. “Novels” during the early Regency were geared toward the female reader; therefore, … Continue reading

Posted in British history, food, George IV, Georgian England, Great Britain, historical fiction, Industry News/Publishing, Jane Austen, literature, Living in the Regency, publishing, reading, reading habits, real life tales, Regency era, Regency personalities, romance | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 13 Comments