Category Archives: research

Very “Real” Estate: Vicars’ Close, Wells, Somerset, England

Posted on November 13, 2020 by

The oldest purely residential street in England is known as Vicars’ Close, which is located in Wells, Somerset, England, and dates from the mid 14th Century.  Planned by Bishop Ralph of Shrewsbury, at one time it was 42 separate houses, … Continue reading →

Posted in architecture, British history, buildings and structures, customs and tradiitons, England, Great Britain, history, medieval, research | Tagged , , , , , , ,

Pirates of the Barbary Coast, a Guest Post from Jann Rowland

Posted on November 9, 2020 by

This post originally appeared on the Austen Authors’ blog on July 22, 2020. Enjoy!  Among the most fearsome historic raiders of the seas were the Barbary Pirates, corsairs who operated from ancient times until the early nineteenth century.While their predations … Continue reading →

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Dressmakers and Fashion and What Jane Austen Said of Both

Posted on October 14, 2020 by

A woman’s dressmaker, or “mantua maker,” as they were often known during the late Georgian era, were essentially paid to know what was the latest fashion trends. Most of us who are obsessed with the era, know something of fashion … Continue reading →

Posted in British history, England, fashion, Georgian England, Georgian Era, Great Britain, history, Jane Austen, Living in the Regency, Regency era, research | Tagged , , , , , ,

During the Regency, Could a Female Run an Estate in the Absence of the Male Heir?

Posted on August 31, 2020 by

Recently, one of my author friends sent me her Work in Progress manuscript for me to comment on what she had written to that point. She and I often bounce ideas off each other. Although beautifully written, making me sorry … Continue reading →

Posted in British history, family, Georgian England, Georgian Era, history, Inheritance, Living in the Regency, marriage, Napoleonic Wars, Pride and Prejudice, Realm series, research, titles of aristocracy, Vagary, writing | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | 7 Comments

Playing Cards in Jane Austen’s England, Pleasant Pastime, as Well as Gambling

Posted on August 24, 2020 by

… the undeniably romantic allure of the richly decorated gaming clubs or the reckless gambling of dynastic fortunes [which] rather trump[s] the dingy and dull penny games played against street walls or in alehouses. (Arthur Pitt, MA dissertation, A Study Of … Continue reading →

Posted in British history, customs and tradiitons, Georgian England, Georgian Era, Jane Austen, Living in the Regency, Mansfield Park, Northanger Abbey, Pride and Prejudice, quotes, Regency era, Regency romance, research, Sense & Sensibility, Whigs | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Body Snatchers, Part II – the Release of “The Mysterious Death of Mr. Darcy”

Posted on August 17, 2020 by

On Friday, we looked at Resurrectionists. Today, we will make a slight distinction with Body Snatchers.  Like what resurrectionists did, body snatching is the secret removal of a corpse from its burial site. As was explained in Friday’s piece the … Continue reading →

Posted in book release, British history, Georgian England, Georgian Era, historical fiction, history, Jane Austen, Living in the Regency, Living in the UK, medicine, mystery, Pride and Prejudice, real life tales, Regency era, Regency romance, research, suspense, writing | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

24 July 1817: The Burial of Jane Austen at Winchester Cathedral, a Guest Post from Collins Hemingway

Posted on July 24, 2020 by

 Today, I have chosen to repeat one of Collins Hemingway’s beautiful pieces speaking to the burial of Jane Austen at Winchester Cathedral.  July 18, 2017, marked the 200th anniversary of the death of Jane Austen. With that date, the official … Continue reading →

Posted in British currency, British history, Georgian England, Guest Post, Jane Austen, kings and queens, Regency era, Regency personalities, research | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

A Blessing or a Curse? The Release of “Last Woman Standing” + an Excerpt

Posted on July 22, 2020 by

Last Woman Standing first made its appearance in October 2019 as part of the Christmas anthology, A Regency Christmas Proposal. It is now a stand alone short romance available on Kindle and Kindle Unlimited.  Kindle eBook: https://www.amazon.com/Last-Woman-Standing-Regency-Christmas-ebook/dp/B089DNBJS6/ref=sr_1_6?dchild=1&keywords=last+woman+standing&qid=1591300412&sr=8-6 Read for FREE … Continue reading →

Posted in book excerpts, British history, Dreamstone Publishing, Georgian England, Georgian Era, giveaway, historical fiction, history, holidays, Living in the Regency, medieval, reading habits, Regency era, Regency romance, research, royalty, titles of aristocracy, war, writing | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 11 Comments

What Does Henry Wadsworth Longfellow Have to Do With the Release of “The Courtship of Lord Blackhurst”?

Posted on June 29, 2020 by

According to Henry Wadsworth Longfellow: A Maine Historical Society Website, “Henry Wadsworth Longfellow was a commanding figure in the cultural life of nineteenth-century America. Born in Portland, Maine, in 1807, he became a national literary figure by the 1850s, and … Continue reading →

Posted in American History, book excerpts, book release, eBooks, excerpt, historical fiction, literature, publishing, reading habits, real life tales, research, romance, writing | Tagged , , , , , ,

John Alden and Celebrating the Release of “The Courtship of Lord Blackhurst” + Giveaway

Posted on June 26, 2020 by

My story, “The Courtship of Lord Blackhurst,” is part of the Regency anthology, Secrets and Soirees, being released 1 July 2020. It is heavily influenced by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow’s “The Courtship of Miles Standish.” Many of the characters names, for … Continue reading →

Posted in America, American History, book excerpts, book release, Dreamstone Publishing, eBooks, Georgian England, Georgian Era, historical fiction, reading, real life tales, Regency era, Regency romance, research, romance, Uncategorized, writing | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 7 Comments