Category Archives: Jane Austen

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

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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

What Did the Term “Half-Pay Officers” Mean During the Regency? And What of “Honor”?

I thought addressing this recent question from a reader appropriate for the Memorial Day Weekend. Question from a reader: I am confused about what it meant to be an officer on half-pay. Can you shed any light on this topic? … Continue reading

Posted in aristocracy, British history, Georgian England, Georgian Era, historical fiction, history, Jane Austen, Living in the Regency, military, Napoleonic Wars, Pride and Prejudice, real life tales, Regency era, research, terminology | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

During the Georgian Era, Would a Vicar or Clergyman Take an Oath?

Question from a Reader: Is there a term for when a man becomes a vicar, such as getting sworn in or taking his vows, making an oath or something? Answer: The man is appointed to the position by the one … Continue reading

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What Did It Mean to Be a “Gentleman” in Jane Austen’s England?

The word “genteel” is an adjective, meaning polite, refined, or respectable, often in an affected or ostentatious way. Its roots can be found in the late 16th century (in the sense ‘fashionable, stylish’): from French gentil ‘well-born’. From the 17th century … Continue reading

Posted in Austen Authors, British history, customs and tradiitons, film adaptations, Georgian England, Georgian Era, Jane Austen, Living in the Regency, marriage customs, Persuasion, Pride and Prejudice, real life tales, Regency era | Tagged , , , , , | Comments Off on What Did It Mean to Be a “Gentleman” in Jane Austen’s England?

Regency Romance Plot Point: Betrothal Announcement in the Newspapers ~ Real or NOT!!!

I have seen and read some copies of actual newspapers of the Regency period which had been digitalized. Naturally, it is possible that there were no marriages of importance to share with the public on those particular dates, but I … Continue reading

Posted in British history, customs and tradiitons, England, Georgian England, Georgian Era, heroines, historical fiction, Jane Austen, Living in the Regency, marriage, marriage customs, publishing, Regency era, Regency romance, research, romance, tradtions, writing | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Regency Romance Plot Point: Betrothal Announcement in the Newspapers ~ Real or NOT!!!

What Was “Silver Paper” in the Regency? + the Upcoming Release of “Lyon in the Way” from Dragonblade Publishers

One man wants her dead. Another may love her forever. For over a year, Lord Richard Orson has been quietly captivated by the unconventional Lady Emma Donoghue. Headstrong, brilliant, and unapologetically involved in causes that rattle Society’s comfort, Emma is … Continue reading

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Examining the Character of John Willoughby in Jane Austen’s “Sense and Sensibility”

John Willoughby is one of Dashwood family’s country neighbors in Devon in Jane Austen’s Sense and Sensibility, but what do we know of the character. He and Sir John Middleton serve as bookends in the country society.  Willoughby literally sweeps Marianne … Continue reading

Posted in Austen actors, books, British history, Great Britain, Jane Austen, Living in the Regency, Regency era, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , | 11 Comments