Category Archives: Jane Austen

Christmas Pudding, Mincemeat Pies, and Christmas Stories

I have debated over the last couple of weeks the nature of this post. Christmas? Something else? A mix? I finally decided we have had enough Christmas (at least, I have, for my decorations are up, presents wrapped, and the … Continue reading

Posted in book release, books, British history, Christmas, England, Georgian England, giveaway, holidays, Jane Austen, Living in the Regency, Living in the UK, publishing, reading habits, real life tales, Regency era, Regency romance, tradtions, writing | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 10 Comments

An Estate By Any Other Name Would Suit Me Fine

When I write my novels, I keep a “History of …” document that lists the character names with a brief description, a running calendar for the year in which the story is set, including important events from the story itself, … Continue reading

Posted in Always Austen, Anglo-Normans, Anglo-Saxons, aristocracy, British history, Church of England, estates, Georgian England, Georgian Era, Great Britain, historical fiction, Jane Austen, Living in the Regency, Living in the UK, real life tales, Regency era, research, word choices, word origins | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Broken Engagements in the Regency Era

Once a man proposed to a woman, he was expected to go through with the marriage unless he suddenly uncovered a flaw in the morals of the lady. Sometimes engagements were called off when the fathers and guardians couldn’t agree … Continue reading

Posted in British history, Church of England, customs and tradiitons, Georgian England, Georgian Era, Great Britain, history, Jane Austen, laws of the land, marriage, Regency era, research | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Dance Sets? How Long? What Kind of Dances? All the Goodies to Know …

Question: If I am not mistaken, at balls, etc., dances were done in sets of two. If that’s true, were they the same kind of dance, or two different kinds of dances, such a country dance and then a quadrille? … Continue reading

Posted in British history, customs and tradiitons, dancing, Georgian England, Georgian Era, Jane Austen, Living in the Regency, real life tales, Regency era | Tagged , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Dance Sets? How Long? What Kind of Dances? All the Goodies to Know …

Changing One’s Name During the Regency

I wish I could recall where I encountered this information, but I cannot. Therefore, I must apologize up front if someone shared it with me, and I am not giving them credit or whether I read it in a Facebook … Continue reading

Posted in Act of Parliament, British history, customs and tradiitons, family, Georgian England, history, Inheritance, Jane Austen, Living in the Regency, peerage, real life tales, Regency era, research, titles of aristocracy, tradtions | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Finding Sheet Music During the Regency Er

                    Although quite expensive, sheet music was readily available during the Regency era. Many a person subscribed to services offered by music publishers, among the Schirmer, the most well known of … Continue reading

Posted in ballads, British history, customs and tradiitons, Georgian England, Georgian Era, history, Jane Austen, music, Napoleonic Wars | Tagged , , , , , | 5 Comments

Anxiety Treatment or Poisons? (or) What Should Mrs. Bennet Take for Her “Nerves”?

Ever wonder what was available for Jane Austen’s character Mrs. Bennet as treatment for the lady’s “nerves”? Perhaps an herb, root, or a tea that would have been used to lessen anxiety. Sort of the Regency equivalent of Xanax. Several … Continue reading

Posted in American History, British history, Great Britain, herbs, Jane Austen, Living in the Regency, real life tales, Regency era, Victorian era | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Maneuvering a Coach in a Tight Space

Reader’s Question: How difficult was it to maneuver a coach during the Regency? I want to add this element to a story I am writing. Response: Okay, I admit up front I am not an expert on this topic. I … Continue reading

Posted in British history, England, Georgian England, Georgian Era, historical fiction, history, Jane Austen, Living in the Regency, Regency era, research, travel | Tagged , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Maneuvering a Coach in a Tight Space

Was the Term “Romance” Used to Describe Such Stories as We Think of Them Today in the Regency Era

First, we should define romance. The Encyclopedia Britannica tells us, “Romanticism can be seen as a rejection of the precepts of order, calm, harmony, balance, idealization, and rationality that typified Classicism in general and late 18th-century Neoclassicism in particular. It was also to some extent … Continue reading

Posted in British history, etymology, fashion, Georgian England, Georgian Era, historical fiction, history, Jane Austen, reading, Regency romance, research, romance, romantic verse, terminology, writing | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Was the Term “Romance” Used to Describe Such Stories as We Think of Them Today in the Regency Era

Question from a Reader/Writer Regarding the Pump Room in Bath

Question: Somehow, I expect I know the answer to this already. Sigh. In a scene I am writing set in the Pump Room, I have described a marble fountain dispensing the waters, only to go, “Wait a minute, is that … Continue reading

Posted in aristocracy, British history, buildings and structures, England, fashion, Georgian Era, history, Jane Austen, legacy, legends | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment