Category Archives: reading

The Pitfalls of Breaking an Engagement During the Regency Era

Only if a man uncovered a flaw in the morals of the lady to whom he proposed could he even consider calling off a marriage proposal. Once he spoke the words and the lady had accepted, there was no “take backs.” If the man left the woman standing at the altar as a no-show, it was thought he had discovered something of her low character, generally, that she had known another intimately. Continue reading

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‘Kinder- un Hausmärchen’ + the Release of “Amending the Shades of Pemberley” + a Giveaway

Jacob and Wilhelm Grimm published the first volume of their collected fairy tales in 1812 under the title Kinder- und Hausmärchen. By 1822, the brothers had published three volumes containing 170 tales total with subsequent editions bringing that number to over 200. Continue reading

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The Origin of “Humpty Dumpty” + the Release of “Amending the Shades of Pemberley” + a Giveaway

The most common version is Humpty Dumpty is a representation of King Richard III of England, who was defeated at the Battle of Bosworth Field in 1485. The “egg” shape refers to King Richard supposedly being a “humpback,” as is portrayed in Shakespeare’s play. “Shakespeare called Richard III a ‘hunchback’, which means that he was hunching forward while walking. Richard III’s skeleton actually shows a sideways displacement of the spine, a heavy scoliosis, which made the king walk obliquely. So there is a certain match between the two: something unusual about the body.” (British Council) The “wall” falling is the loss of his reign as king. The king’s horses and men are the army who failed to defeat their enemy Continue reading

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Marriage by Proxy, Possible or Myth? + The Release of “Amending the Shades of Pemberley” + a Giveaway

When the Hardwick Act for the Prevention of Clandestine Marriages went into effect in March of 1754, the rules for marrying in England changed dramatically. Prior to that time, all the couple had to do was to pronounce their vows before a clergyman of the Church of England. Heck, it did not even have to be one’s local clergyman or even one’s local church. In fact, the Fleet Street prison saw quite a few marriages in those days Continue reading

Posted in Act of Parliament, book excerpts, book release, British history, customs and tradiitons, England, Georgian England, Georgian Era, giveaway, historical fiction, history, Jane Austen, laws of the land, Living in the Regency, marriage, marriage customs, marriage licenses, Pride and Prejudice, publishing, reading, real life tales, Regency era, Regency romance, research, Vagary, writing | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 14 Comments

A Young Lady’s “Come Out” in Regency Society

Recently, I received this question from an author/reader: Can you tell me if a young lady could have her debut ball at age 17 or 18, instead of the age 16 we customary read in Regency romance? Would a death … Continue reading

Posted in British history, family, Georgian England, Georgian Era, heroines, historical fiction, history, Jane Austen, Living in the Regency, marriage, marriage customs, Pride and Prejudice, reading, Regency era, Regency romance, research | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on A Young Lady’s “Come Out” in Regency Society

Happy 14th Book Birthday to “Darcy’s Passions,” the Book Which Made Me a “Fiction Author”

During the 2007-2008 school year, I complained to my Advanced Placement Language class about a particular novel I had been reading for “pleasure,” what we would now call Jane Austen Fan Fiction (JAFF), a genre just building in popularity for … Continue reading

Posted in Always Austen, Austen Authors, book excerpts, book release, books, eBooks, Georgian England, Georgian Era, historical fiction, Jane Austen, marriage, Pride and Prejudice, publishing, reading, reading habits, real life tales, Regency era, Regency romance, romance, Ulysses Press, Vagary, writing | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 33 Comments

Twelfth Night Sale on Regency Romance and Suspense, December 26, 2022, to January 5, 2023

All of the stories listed below will be on sale, starting today through January 5, 2023. Fill up your eReaders!!!! All books will be $0.99. These books are historical romantic suspense and Regencies, as well as two contemporary tales. Moreover, … Continue reading

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Happy 9th Book Birthday to “A Touch of Love: Book 6 of the REALM Series”

Originally, I thought the Realm series would be three, mayhap four novels. I thought the books would cover the adventures of James Kerrington (book 1), Brantley Fowler (book 2), Marcus Wellston (book 3), and Gabriel Crowden (book 4). For the … Continue reading

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Happy 6th Book Birthday to “Mr. Darcy’s Bargain”

Mr. Darcy’s Bargain: A Pride and Prejudice Vagary came to life from a bit of research I was doing at the time for another book. I came across an interesting character who I thought would make the “perfect Wickham” in … Continue reading

Posted in American History, Austen Authors, book excerpts, books, British history, commerce, eBooks, Georgian England, Georgian Era, Great Britain, heroines, historical fiction, Jane Austen, Living in the Regency, marriage, Pride and Prejudice, reading, reading habits, real life tales, Regency era, Regency romance, Vagary | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Happy 6th Book Birthday to “Mr. Darcy’s Bargain”

James Lackington: The Man Who Revolutionized Book Stores

In a time when we bemoan the loss of Borders, Waldenbooks, and fear the demise of Barnes & Noble and Books-a-Million, it is hard for us to imagine what it must have been like for those who entered “The Dome … Continue reading

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