Category Archives: real life tales

John Gower, Medieval English Poet and Contemporary of William Langland and Geoffrey Chaucer

John Gower was a medieval English poet whose work spoke of moral allegory and courtly love. He was known to be a friend of Geoffrey Chaucer and their styles were compatible. Gower was said to influence many other poets of … Continue reading

Posted in Age of Chaucer, Anglo-Normans, British history, Great Britain, real life tales, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

November 30 ~ St. Andrew’s Day

Who was Saint Andrew ? Despite what many may think, St. Andrew, who is the patron saint of Scotland, did not live and work in that country. In fact, his legendary connections to Scotland appeared centuries after his death. Andrew, … Continue reading

Posted in Act of Parliament, British history, Great Britain, real life tales, Scotland, St. Andrew | Tagged , , , , , | 2 Comments

‘Tis the Season, Celebrating What is Known as “Christmastide”

Christmastide (also Christmas or the Christmas season) is one of the seasons of the liturgical year of most Christian churches. It tends to be defined (with slight variations) as the period from Christmas Eve to the Epiphany. This period is … Continue reading

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What Does It Mean to “Be Knighted”?

In Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice, Sir William Lucas has been knighted by the King for his service as to Meryton. But what exactly does it mean to be knighted? Knighthoods likely date back to ancient Rome. At that time … Continue reading

Posted in Anglo-Normans, British history, Great Britain, Jane Austen, Living in the Regency, real life tales, Regency era, Uncategorized | 9 Comments

London Architecture: The Burlington Arcade

This is my second piece on London Architectural excellence. See my previous piece on Woburn Walk HERE. Today we look at the Burlington Arcade.  Located in the heart of Mayfair, we find the Burlington Arcade, a Grade II shopping center dating … Continue reading

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William Langland, Cleric and Social Reformer and Author of “Piers Plowman”

William Langland is the presumed author of the Middle English alliterative poem known as Piers the Ploughman. “After George Kane’s thorough study of the available internal and external evidence in his Piers Plowman: The Evidence for Authorship (1965), single authorship … Continue reading

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London Architecture: Woburn Walk

During the Georgian period, shopfronts emerged, and by the mid 1800s, the populace preferred the characteristic bowed fronts. The Rebuilding Act had prescribed “pent house” projections, but the necessity to add drain pipes to the outside of the building changed … Continue reading

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The Reign of George IV + a Giveaway of “A Touch of Emerald”

The last year of his reign and the passing of King George IV serves as the backdrop for the last book in my award-winning REALM series, A Touch of Emerald. Those of us who write books situated during the Regency … Continue reading

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The Witchcraft Acts in Great Britain

In the 16th Century, ill-fortune was often blamed on acts of witchcraft. In England, Ireland, Wales, and Scotland, there have been a series of acts to prevent the practice of witchcraft. The first of those was Henry VIII’s Witchcraft Act of … Continue reading

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A Regency Era Whig Conversation Club, King of Clubs

The King of Clubs was a famous Whig conversation club, founded in 1798. In contrast to its mainly Tory forerunner The Club (established by Samuel Johnson, Edmund Burke and Sir Joshua Reynolds), it was a predominantly Whig fraternity of some … Continue reading

Posted in British history, Great Britain, Living in the Regency, real life tales, Regency era, Whigs | Tagged , , , | 2 Comments