Category Archives: research

Capability Brown, England’s Greatest Landscape Artist: “This site has great capabilities.”

Lancelot ‘Capability’ Brown changed the face of eighteenth century England, designing country estates and mansions, moving hills and making flowing lakes and serpentine rivers, a magical world of green. (About Capability Brown) The fifth child of William Brown, the land … Continue reading

Posted in British history, business, estates, Georgian England, Georgian Era, Jane Austen, Pride and Prejudice, real life tales, research | Tagged , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

Reporting Deaths in the Aftermath of Waterloo

 One of my favorite Regency series comes from Mary Balogh. In the Bedwyns Saga’s book 5, entitled Slightly Sinful, Lord Alleyne Bedwyn is wounded at Waterloo. A woman who is stripping the bodies of their clothing in order to sell … Continue reading

Posted in British history, Georgian England, Georgian Era, history, Living in the Regency, military, Napoleonic Wars, real life tales, Regency era, Regency romance, research, war, weather | Tagged , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Rochester and Higham, Kent, UK and How They Are Used in “Losing Lizzy: A Pride and Prejudice Vagary”

When I write my Pride and Prejudice based vagaries, I tend to place Lady Catherine de Bourgh’s fictionalize Rosings Park in the Rochester/Higham area of Kent. I choose this area for two basic reasons: (1) Rochester is about 30 miles … Continue reading

Posted in Austen Authors, book release, British history, British Navy, buildings and structures, Church of England, estates, Georgian England, Georgian Era, historical fiction, Jane Austen, Living in the Regency, Pride and Prejudice, real life tales, Regency era, research, Vagary, writing | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Rochester and Higham, Kent, UK and How They Are Used in “Losing Lizzy: A Pride and Prejudice Vagary”

Turning Urine into Gold and Hennig Brand’s “Folly”

Hennig Brand, (flourished 1670, Hamburg [Germany]), was a German chemist (alchemist, really) who, through his discovery of phosphorus, became the first known discoverer of an element. The Famous Scientists website (see link below) provides us a bit about Brand’s personal life. “In his … Continue reading

Posted in history, real life tales, research, science | Tagged , , , , , | 2 Comments

Militia Officers’ Enlistment + the Release of “Mr. Darcy’s Inadvertent Bride” + a Giveaway

Mr. Darcy’s Inadvertent Bride Releases Today!!! When I first conceived this book, I planned to have Mr. Wickham compromise Elizabeth Bennet with a kiss and then disappear from the militia, but, before I put pen to paper, I had to … Continue reading

Posted in book excerpts, book release, British history, George Wickham, Georgian England, Georgian Era, giveaway, historical fiction, Jane Austen, Living in the Regency, military, Pride and Prejudice, publishing, real life tales, Regency era, Regency romance, research, Vagary, war, writing | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 9 Comments

Fencibles: Defending the Homeland + an excerpt from “Mr. Darcy’s Inadvertent Bride”

Fencibles were the British “defense” (from the word ‘defencible’) forces raised for a specific war. They were raised for defense against the treat of invasion during the Seven Years’ War, the American War of Independence, the French Revolutionary Wars, the … Continue reading

Posted in book excerpts, book release, British history, Georgian Era, giveaway, historical fiction, history, Jane Austen, Living in the Regency, Living in the UK, military, Pride and Prejudice, real life tales, Regency era, Regency romance, research, war, writing | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 6 Comments

The Babington Plot to Kill Queen Elizabeth I

Anthony Babington, the third child and eldest son of Henry Babington, was born into a wealthy Catholic family in Dethick, Derbyshire, in October 1561. The bells of the church announced his birth to the world; yet, his plotting would destroy his family. … Continue reading

Posted in British history, Elizabeth I, England, history, kings and queens, real life tales, religion, research, Scotland | Tagged , , , , , , | Comments Off on The Babington Plot to Kill Queen Elizabeth I

Lady Catherine de Bourgh Character Study, a Guest Post from Amanda Kai

In my quest to learn more about Lady Catherine de Bourgh for my current work-in-progress, I’ve decided to make a character study of her. While some of the minor characters in Pride and Prejudice get no more than a line … Continue reading

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The Story of the Botanics’ Sabal Palm Tree, a Living Vestige of the Regency, a Guest Post from Eliza Shearer

This post originally appeared on the Austen Authors’ blog on October 12, 2020. Enjoy! I am a proud Edinburgh resident. As such, I’m spoilt for choice when it comes to reminders of the Regency, from windows and house doors to family portraits in museums … Continue reading

Posted in Austen Authors, Georgian England, Georgian Era, Guest Post, Jane Austen, Living in the Regency, Mansfield Park, real life tales, Regency era, research | Tagged , , , , , , , | Comments Off on The Story of the Botanics’ Sabal Palm Tree, a Living Vestige of the Regency, a Guest Post from Eliza Shearer

Princess Caroline, Jane Austen, and “The Regency Valentine,” a Guest Post from C. D. Gerard

This post originally appeared on the Austen Authors’ blog on October 5, 2019. Enjoy. In my “Sense and Sensibility” sequel “The Daughters of Delaford,”  Marianne and the Colonel’s daughter Allegra, and Elinor and Edward’s daughter Grace, become important players in the … Continue reading

Posted in Austen Authors, George IV, Georgian England, Georgian Era, Guest Post, history, Regency era, Regency personalities, research, Sense & Sensibility, writing | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Princess Caroline, Jane Austen, and “The Regency Valentine,” a Guest Post from C. D. Gerard