Category Archives: Great Britain

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

Georgian Era Commerce

Before the later part of the Georgian Period in England few buildings/structures specifically designed for trade and commerce existed. One need only to look at the timber wharfs of the Port of London to understand the haphazard way the people … Continue reading

Posted in British history, Great Britain, Living in the Regency, real life tales, Regency era | Tagged , , , , , | 8 Comments

Happy February Birthdays to Some of Our Favorite “Austen” Actors

These fabulous Thespians have brought us hours of viewing fun in Austen-inspired films. Happy Birthday!        9 February – Ciarán Hinds, who portrayed Captain Frederick Wentworth in 1995’s Persuasion 15 February – Jane Seymour, who portrayed Mrs Wattlesbrook … Continue reading

Posted in film adaptations, Great Britain, Jane Austen, real life tales | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

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