Release of “The Road to Understanding” with an Excerpt and a Giveaway

Posted on April 29, 2016 by Regina Jeffers

Back in 1984, I went into labor 5 weeks early in the middle of my Theatre/Acting class. That early delivery was the joy of my life, especially as I had lost two previous children.

TPB Cover (2) copy 2Over the April 16-17 weekend, I had another early delivery. This one was two weeks early in the form of a new release, an event often repeated in the publishing business. As we authors think of our books as our “babies,” I will admit I am delighted with the successful delivery of this latest one, but, like my son’s early appearance some 31 years prior, I was not ready (I was leaving instructions for my sub as they rolled me out the door on a stretcher.) Most authors try to space out their releases, and so I re-released The Pemberley Ball in early April, for The Road to Understanding was to be a Mother’s Day release. However, the best laid plans of mice and men often go awry.

So, permit me to introduce you to my latest “baby.” What is the premise of The Road to Understanding, you may ask? First, it is a Pride and Prejudice vagary set on the American front in the late 1780s. The characters are NOT Darcy and Elizabeth, but you will recognize them, nonetheless. They are traveling from the Roanoke, Virginia, to Jonesborough, Tennessee, on The Great Valley Road (i.e., the use of “Road” in the title).

I am not of the persuasion that Austen writes character-driven stories. Do not get me wrong: Austen’s characters are some of the most memorable ever written. However, in my opinion, Austen writes plot-driven stories. Take Pride and Prejudice, for example. Austen’s most popular story has been rewritten in the form of Bridget Jones’s Diary, You’ve Got Mail, Unleashing Mr. Darcy, etc. That is what I have done in The Road to Understanding.

We have the customary characters in this new tale: Charlie Bradford is best friend to Darius Fitzwilliam. They served in the Revolutionary War together. We have the Harris family with three daughters, Jonquil, Eliza, and Margaret. Mr. Norville is the new minister. One of Eliza’s friends is Charlotte MacCaffey. Geoffrey Shannon is the son of the man who betrayed the Fitzwilliam family. Darius has a younger sister named Grace, while Charlie’s sister is Caroline. I have combined the character of Miss King and Lydia into Miss Kimble.

________________________________

This is the “Meryton Assembly” scene from Chapter 2 of The Road to Understanding.

And so on Saturday evening, Darius stood along the wall of the main building in Wythe Court House and watched the Harris ladies and many of the locals he’d encountered on previous journeys to “civilization.” In addition to the farm with its new barn laid out some three miles from the newly minted county seat, the men had constructed a makeshift dance floor from the left over lumber. A wooden floor graced the lawn.

When he and Charlie had arrived, his friend made the proper introductions for the other Harrises. Charlie’s estimation of Miss Jonquil was accurate: The woman held the face of an angel, but Darius preferred the imperfection found in Miss Eliza’s countenance. As to many others enjoying the celebration, he viewed them as too young, mayhap not in years, but certainly in temperament.

“Come, Fitz,” Charlie declared as he saddled up beside Darius, ”you must dance. I dislike seeing you standin’ about in absolute righteousness. You’d be better off claimin’ the attentions of one of the ladies. My sister’s hold on you no longer exists.”

“I am well situated, Charlie. Enjoy the music and the activity. You know I’m not much of a dancer. Even if Miss Bradford were in attendance, I’d be happy to claim my place along the wall. Moreover, I prefer to hold a longer acquaintance with a woman before I pay court.”

Charlie’s frown lines deepened. “Opportunities to take the acquaintance of eligible young women be few, Fitz. We’ll not encounter so many fine lookin’ women in one place any time soon.”

“You’ve danced with the fairest of the brood,” Darius teased.

“Oh, she’s the most beautiful creature I ever beheld,” Charlie pronounced with enthusiasm.

It stung Darius’s pride to view Charlie staring in the direction of where Miss Eliza spoke to her sisters.

“She made no notice of my missin’ hand when I partnered her, simply placed her hand on my stump. No repulsion whatsoever,” Charlie revealed. “As if it didn’t matter.”

“I told you so for the past decade,” Darius reminded his friend.

Charlie grinned widely. “It’s not as if your opinion doesn’t make a squat, but it’s different when a fine lady treats a man with respect.”

At least Miss Eliza had treated Charlie as Darius hoped. “Then you best be at it. The music will start again soon; you don’t want another to claim your prize.”

“Are you certain you’ll not join the set?” Charlie implored. “I mean again to claim Miss Jonni as partner, but there are several other very pleasant girls among the Harrises’ acquaintances.”

“You’ll claim the prettiest girl at the party,” Darius added his encouragement. “How might I compete with your engaging conversation?”

“Miss Eliza has yet to claim a partner for the next tune?” Charlie suggested. “You could do worse.”

Darius’s heart stuttered with the possibility. What would it be to hold the woman’s hand? To claim refreshments with Miss Eliza upon his arm? To escort her into the dark and to steal a kiss?

Without considering the ramifications, he turned to look upon Miss Eliza, until, catching her eye, Darius withdrew his own. Before responding to Charlie, he paused to will the desire from his blood.

“The girl’s tolerable, but not to my nature. I’m in no humor to pay attendance upon any woman this evening, especially one that thinks herself some sort of female equal to the men she meets. Less than a week prior, I considered myself engaged to your sister. Enjoy your many partners and their smiles. You waste your time with me.”

Charlie followed Darius’s advice. Unfortunately, when Darius turned toward the refreshment table, he didn’t notice that Miss Eliza and Miss MacCaffey had moved to within hearing distance of his conversation with Charlie. Darius didn’t witness the flush of color, which claimed the lady’s cheeks, nor did he note how her shoulders stiffened with his remark.

“I’m sorry for Mr. Fitzwilliam’s unthinking remark,” Charlotte MacCaffey said in regret.

Eliza swallowed the hurt: She’d never realized how much harm words could cause. “Think nothin’ of it,” she told her newest friend.

Eliza had liked Miss MacCaffey from the moment of their first meeting. The girl was a bit older than Jonni and not of the most handsome features, but Eliza found much to admire. Miss MacCaffey was well read and held astute opinions. Eliza felt as if they’d known each other forever.

“It’s not as if I wish Mr. Fitzwilliam’s approval.”

“I suppose men of his ilk only look to a woman’s station. My father says Mr. Fitzwilliam’s father is quite wealthy–the man owns more land than fifty others combined.”

Eliza’s eyebrow rose in curiosity. “I didn’t realize.” The concept perplexed her. She’d known other wealthy farmers and tradesmen, but none who’d chosen to ignore her as if she were an indentured servant. “And what of Miss Bradford? Wasn’t Mr. Fitzwilliam to marry Mr. Bradford’s sister?”

“Oh, yes, but the lady married another. Rumors say Miss Bradford didn’t wish to live in the wilderness. As to the woman’s brother, Papa says Mr. Bradford be quite wealthy also. Not as much as the younger Mr. Fitzwilliam, but near half. The elder Bradford owned a large mercantile. Supplied much of what the troops required in the war. One of the fortunate ones. Got paid regular for his efforts.”

“A person would never know the man wealthy,” Eliza remarked as she studied her sister Jonni in close conversation with Bradford. For a moment, she wondered if Jonquil held any knowledge of Mr. Bradford’s being more than another frontiersman, but Eliza quickly rejected the idea. Jonni wasn’t the type to practice feminine deceptions. “Mr. Fitzwilliam may hold double the income of his friend, but the man isn’t so well worth listening to as be Mr. Bradford. Fortune isn’t a man’s only redeeming quality.”

ATOV CoverBack Cover:

DARIUS FITZWILLIAM’s life is planned down to who he will marry and where he will live, but life has a way of saying, “You don’t get to choose.” When his marriage to his long-time betrothed Caroline Brad

ford falls through, Darius is forced to take a step back and to look upon a woman who enflames his blood with desire, but also engenders disbelief. Eliza Harris is everything that Darius never realized he wanted.

ELIZA HARRIS is accustomed to doing as she pleases. Yet, despite being infuriated by his authoritative manner, when she meets the staunchly disciplined Captain Fitzwilliam, she wishes for more. She instinctively knows he is “home,” but Eliza possesses no skills in achieving her aspirations.

Plagued with misunderstandings, manipulations, and peril upon the Great Valley Road between eastern Virginia and western Tennessee in the years following the Revolutionary War, Darius and Eliza claim a strong allegiance before love finds its way into their hearts.

This is a faith-based tale based on Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice.

Purchase Links:

Kindle        Kobo         Nook      Amazon      CreateSpace   

NOW FOR THE GIVEAWAY!!! I HAVE TWO eBOOK COPIES OF “THE ROAD TO UNDERSTANDING” AVAILABLE FOR THOSE WHO COMMENT BELOW. RANDOM.ORG WILL PICK THE WINNERS.

Posted in American History, Appalachia, book excerpts, book release, historical fiction, Jane Austen, Pride and Prejudice, Vagary | Tagged , , , , , | 8 Comments

Do You Know These Words and Phrases?

Posted on April 26, 2016 by Regina Jeffers

These are some of the words and phrases I have encountered of late while reading. Some I knew the meaning and some I did not. Even when I knew the meaning, I was interested in the word’s origin or how it came into the language. 

From the 1913 edition of Webster’s Dictionary, we find the following for Trumpery Ring: 1. Deceit; fraud. [Obs.]; 2. Grenewey Something serving to deceive by false show or pretense; falsehood; deceit; worthless but showy matter; hence,things worn out and of no value; rubbish. Example: The trumpery in my house, go bring it hither, for state to catch these thieves. -Shakespeare (or) Example: Upon the coming of Christ, very much, though not all, of this idolatrous trumpery and superstition was driven out of the world.-from a Robert South sermon. 3. Worthless or deceptive in character. “A trumpery little ring.” -Thackeray.

Escaramuza is the Spanish word for skirmish. I was fascinated to how it has come to mean: Girl in escaramuza dress, the female counterpart to a charro. Wordnik gives us this example: As early enthusiasts became more proficient at riding, they began beefing up the speed and intricacy of their drill routines, giving rise to a new and more descriptive label for the art — escaramuza — the Spanish word for skirmish.

Abrigado also comes to us from Spanish. The Oxford Dictionary provides us with these meanings:  sheltered, as a bay sheltered or protected from the wind (un rincón abrigado del frío/de la lluvia); a sheltered spot out of the cold/the rain.

The 1811 Dictionary of the Vulgar Tongue tells us that Corkbrained means lightheaded or foolish, the Merriman Webster Dictionary says Saphead means a weak-minded or stupid person and Madcap mean marked by capriciousness, recklessness, or foolishness. 

I discovered lots of examples of the phrase Cross-and-Jostle Work, but no actual definition. Mayhap someone reading this post, might help. There is a very sexual reference on Urban Dictionary, but I refuse to believe those who wrote the following examples had vibrating buttocks in mind.

From Kasey Michaels and Alphabet Regency Romance Complete Box Set in The Somerville Farce, we find “Andy nodded vigorously. ‘Cross-and-jostle work, the fella we met called it, isn’t that right, Willie, my good friend? Yes, that was it, prime cross-and-jostle work.” 

From Exercises, Political and Others, Volume 6 by Thomas Perronet Thompson, we find a different example: “Two men will not starve when one will suffice, a highly laudable species of economy. The landlords limit the food that shall be there to eat; and because there would be no use in two thousand men agreeing to die upon half the food that can keep soul and body together, they either toss up for it or play a cross-and-jostle match and one thousand lives while the other dies.” 

Meanwhile, The English Spy: An Original Work, Characteristic, Satirical, and Humorous, Volume 2 by Charles Molloy Westmacott provides us with this example: “Optimus: What, cross-and-jostle work again? A second edition of Virginia Water? But I thought you felt assured that Cannon would not do wrong for the wealth of Windsor Castle.”

Merriman-Webster Dictionary provides these two meanings for Nabob:  a provincial governor of the Mogul empire in India; 2:  a person of great wealth or prominence. Meanwhile, The Free Dictionary gives us these three meanings for Flummery: 1. Meaningless or deceptive language; humbug. 2. a. Any of several soft, sweet, bland foods, such as custard. b. A sweet gelatinous pudding made by straining boiled oatmeal or flour. c. A soft dessert of stewed, thickened fruit, often mixed with a grain such as rice. I recognized the first definition, but the second. Needless to say, Dandified means greatly concerned with smartness of dress.

neckclothitania-1818.gifDid you know that Trone d’ amour is a style of cravat. The Trone d’Amour – The The trone d’Amour is the most austere after the Oriental Tie – It must be extremely well stiffened with starch. It is formed by one single horizontal dent in the middle. Colour, Yeux de fille en extase.

There are rumors that A Whole Ball of Wax is derived from workers at Madame Tussauds, but this seems a bit contrived. I have also heard that it is derived from the term the whole bailiwick. 

World Wide Words tells us, “What we do know is that the whole ball of wax is everything and so essentially means the same as other American expressions such as the whole nine yards, the whole shooting match, the whole megillah, the whole shebang and the whole enchilada. Until recently, its first appearance was in the ninth edition of Webster’s New Collegiate Dictionary of 1953 and was assumed to be of that period. It turns out to be much older.

“We can dismiss the Madame Tussaud’s connection out of hand. It’s the product of an unoriginal mind which has linked wax with waxworks and done the equivalent of making two and two equal five.

“Another story appeared in William and Mary Morris’s book The Morris Dictionary of Word and Phrase Origins. They quote an English legal text from 1620 which describes the allocation of land among the heirs to an estate by a process very much like a lottery. Each parcel of land was listed on its own piece of paper, sealed inside a small ball of wax, and placed in a hat. Each heir then pulled out one of the balls to discover which part was his. The Morrises were strangely credulous about a link between this process and the expression in view of the nearly 400-year and more than 3,000-mile gap between that description and the then first known appearance of the phrase. Whatever the origin, this isn’t it.

“A graphic artist claims he heard the following during a seminar on typography: the phrase comes from typesetting. He was told that, in the days when type was made of metal, small pieces of gold would flake off the typesetting equipment. The typesetter would collect the gold flakes in a ball of wax to later melt down and reclaim the gold. Very often, someone would make off with the whole ball of wax. However, I can’t find a reference anywhere to that method having been used to gather up flakes of waste gold.

51XPGxNbneL._SX331_BO1,204,203,200_“I did find what seemed to be a clue to its origins, in a disintegrating paperback in my library — a science-fiction novel of 1954 by Shepherd Mead, who two years before had written How To Succeed in Business Without Really Trying. Called The Big Ball of Wax, it’s a futuristic satire on business and advertising in America and contains this line from the narrator, a market research man, about the story to come: ‘Well, why don’t we go back to the beginning and roll it all up, as the fellows say, into one big ball of wax?’, that is, put everything together to make a coherent and complete whole. This sounds too much like a fuller and less elliptical early version of the saying to be a coincidence.

“However, many old newspapers have now been digitised, so that they can he readily searched electronically. This has thrown up a number of much older appearances of the phrase. The earliest found so far is from the Atlanta Constitution of 25 April 1882: ‘We notice that John Sherman & Co. have opened a real estate office in Washington. Believing in his heart of hearts that he owns this country, we will be greatly surprised if Mr. Sherman does not attempt to sell out the whole ball of wax under the hammer.’ Another a few months later was in the Indiana Democrat: ‘The Democrats can beat the ‘whole ball of wax’ this season.’ (Note the quotation marks enclosing the expression, a good sign that it was regarded as rather too recently coined or colloquial to be admitted to full membership of the language.)

“The origin has been taken back so far that it is beginning to look as though another often-told story might be the right one. It is said that whole ball of wax is a humorous modification of whole bailiwick, perhaps because of a mental association between bail and ball, and between wick and candle wax.”

Thrasonical (Pronounced /θrəˈsɒnɪkəl/) “should be put in the category of educated insults, since only those who have swallowed the dictionary or know Latin literature understand what it means. A thrasonical person is a braggart. The original was a former soldier named Thraso, a character in the play Eunuchus (The Eunuch), which was written in 161 B. C. and became the most popular of the six by the writer whom we know as Terence.

“Thrasonical started to appear in English in the sixteenth century, in time for Shakespeare to put it into the mouth of Rosalind in As you Like It. She describes Julius Caesar’s famous assertion veni, vidi, vici (“I came, I saw, I conquered”) as a thrasonical brag.

“These days, its most frequent appearances are in a widely-reproduced bit of advice to aspiring authors or public speakers: ‘Let your conversation possess a clarified conciseness, compacted comprehensibleness, coalescent consistency, and a concatenated cogency. Eschew all conglomerations of flatulent garrulity, jejune babblement, and asinine affectations. Let your extemporaneous descantings and unpremeditated expatiations have intelligibility, without rhodomontade or thrasonical bombast. Sedulously avoid all polysyllabical profundity, pompous prolixity, and ventriloquial vapidity. Shun double-entendre and prurient jocosity, whether obscure or apparent. In other words, speak truthfully, naturally, clearly, purely, but do not use large words.’ – Notes and Queries, 11 Feb. 1893.

“In an idle moment, I set out to trace this to its origin. It turns out to be a hardy perennial, which became popular on both sides of the Atlantic from the 1880s on, appearing regularly in magazines and newspapers. The earliest unearthed so far is in the Pennsylvania School Journal of 1874. It is surely older still. You may feel that both thrasonical brag and thrasonical bombast are tautological. I couldn’t possibly disagree.” (World Wide Words)

The last one for today is Shemozzle (Pronounced /ʃɪˈmɒz(ə)l) “is a state of confusion and chaos. It might simply be a muddle, or it could be a ruckus, row, quarrel or loud commotion.” Agatha Christie used it in The Mirror Crack’d from Side to Side (1962): “No end of a shemozzle there’s been there lately,” he said. “Marina Gregg’s been having hysterics most days. Said some coffee she was given was poisoned.”

World Wide Words says the word appears to be of Yiddish origin, “fitting the pattern of a group of terms that that are best known in American English through the influence of Yiddish-speaking immigrants: schlock, schlemiel, schmaltz, schlepper, schmuck, schlimazel. (Much variation exists in the way they are spelled.) However, many of these are known earlier in the speech of German immigrants to Britain.

“Shemozzle grew up as part of the slang of London’s East End more than a century ago, a creation of bookmakers and racecourse touts. Jonathon Green has found early examples of shemozzle in articles by the racing journalist Arthur Binstead, who penned ‘gloriously non-PC’ columns in the Sporting Times at the end of the nineteenth century under the pseudonym “Morris the Mohel.” (A mohel is a person who is qualified to perform the Jewish rite of circumcision.)

Shemozzle has since spread around the world: “‘The money is starting to dry up. … I’m now fighting to get anything. They are not responding to my emails. It’s been a shemozzle, a complete and utter waste of time and money.’ – Sydney Morning Herald, 15 Feb. 2010.

“Leo Rosten denied in The Joys of Yiddish that it [shemozzle] had any connection with that language, and others argue similarly that it was invented in imitation of other Yiddish words, but isn’t one.

“Some references cautiously suggest that it was loosely based on the Yiddish slim mazel, which became schlimazel in the U. S. Yiddish was originally a German dialect whose vocabulary includes lots of Hebrew words. Slim mazel is a good example: slim is old German, meaning “crooked”, while mazel is from Hebrew mazzal, a star or planet, though its main meaning is “luck”. So slim mazel may be translated as “crooked luck”, roughly the opposite of the Yiddish mazel tov, good luck. But how that changed to mean a rumpus is far from obvious.

Picture-1-300x289“Schlemiel! Schlimazel! Hasenpfeffer Incorporated!” What does this strange sentence mean? At the start of each episode, Laverne and Shirley are seen skipping down the street, arm in arm, reciting a Yiddish-American hopscotch chant: “1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 Schlemiel! Schlimazel! Hasenpfeffer Incorporated!” This then leads into the series’ theme song which is entitled “Making Our Dreams Come True” and is performed by Cyndi Grecco.

schlemiel : an inept clumsy person; a bungler; a dolt (Yiddish shlemil)

schlimazel : a chronically unlucky person (שלימזל shlimazl, from Middle High German slim ‘crooked’ and Hebrew מזל mazzāl ‘luck’) (OED)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_English_words_of_Yiddish_origin

Hasenpfeffer (also spelled hasenfeffer) is a traditional German stew made from marinated rabbit or hare. Pfeffer is not only the name of a spice, but also of a dish where the animal’s blood is used as a gelling agent for the sauce.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hasenpfeffer

Posted in language choices, vocabulary, word choices, word origins, word play | Tagged , , , | 1 Comment

Coburg’s Influence on Queen Victoria

Posted on April 15, 2016 by Regina Jeffers
220px-Leopold_I_of_Belgium_(2)

https://en.wikipedia.org/ wiki/Leopold_I_of_Belgium

Leopold I of Belgium exercised great influence over Queen Victoria. He replaced Victoire, the Queen’s mother, as the young queen’s confidant. “Born into the ruling family of the small German duchy of  Saxe-Coburg-Saalfeld, Leopold took a commission in the Imperial Russian Army and fought against Napoleon after French troops overran Saxe-Coburg during the Napoleonic Wars. After Napoleon’s defeat, Leopold moved to the United Kingdom where he married Princess Charlotte of Wales, the only child of the Prince Regent (the future King George IV), thus situating himself as a possible future prince consort of Great Britain. Charlotte died in 1817, although Leopold continued to enjoy considerable status in England.” (Leopold I of Belgium) Ironically, Leopold chose to remain in England after Charlotte’s death to forestall any attempts of Parliament to rescind the allowance awarded him with his marriage to Princess Charlotte. 

Initially, as the uncle to Princess Victoria, Leopold supported his sister Victoire. He served as loving uncle, and Victoria spent many happy days at his home, Claremont House, in Surrey. Yet, in 1831, Prince Leopold became Leopold I of Belgium. His exit left Princess Victoria totally under the control of Victorie, the Duchess of Kent, and the duchess’s widely-detested adviser, Sir John Conroy. 

“Her mother the Duchess of Kent,  was the sister of both Albert’s father—the Duke of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha—and King Leopold. Leopold arranged for his sister, Victoria’s mother, to invite the Duke of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha and his two sons to visit Victorie in May 1836, with the purpose of meeting Victoria. William IV, however, disapproved of any match with the Coburgs, and instead favoured the suit of Prince Alexander, second son of the Prince of Orange. Victoria was well aware of the various matrimonial plans and critically appraised a parade of eligible princes. She wrote, ‘[Albert] is extremely handsome; his hair is about the same colour as mine; his eyes are large and blue, and he has a beautiful nose and a very sweet mouth with fine teeth; but the charm of his countenance is his expression, which is most delightful.’ Alexander, on the other hand, she described as ‘very plain.’

Six years later when Victoria assumed the throne of Great Britain, she was “hell-bent” on making her own decisions. Victoria went so far as to warn Leopold that his political advice would find an empty vessel. Leopold took a different route: He became matchmaker. His nephew, Prince Albert of Coburg, was the younger son of his brother, the reigning sovereign of Coburg. At Leopold’s suggestion Albert was sent to England to woo Victoria and, more importantly, to bring Coburg’s influence to the most powerful nation in the world. 

“Victoria wrote to her uncle Leopold to thank him ‘for the prospect of great happiness you have contributed to give me, in the person of dear Albert … He possesses every quality that could be desired to render me perfectly happy.’ Although the parties did not undertake a formal engagement, both the family and their retainers widely assumed that the match would take place.” (Albert, Prince Consort)

Albert’s first journey to England came when he was still in his teens, but Victoria was too enthralled with the independence her new position provided than to think much of becoming a wife. There was a time that Victoria thought never to marry for she held no desire to subjugate herself in any manner to another. Rumors also exist that Victoria’s was not too keen on sexual intimacies, but that soon changed. 

Albert’s second journey to England came some two years later. Victoria now looked upon her cousin with a more favorable eye. They were soon “in love.” Victoria proposed to Albert on 30 October 1839 for she outranked him. The announcement of Victoria’s intention to marry was made 23 November of the same year. Albert was naturalised by an Act of Parliament, and granted the style of Royal Highness by an  Order in Council. Victoria and Albert were married on 10 February 1840 at the Chapel Royal, St James’s Palace. They were both a few months short of 21 years at the time. 

220px-Prince_Albert_-_Partridge_1840

https://en.wikipedia.org/ wiki/Albert,_Prince_Consort

Leopold insinuated that a peerage for Albert was expected, but reportedly, the House of Lords would not accept a foreigner serving among them. Anti-German sentiments and a desire to keep Albert an outsider in political matters prevailed. Lord “Melbourne led a minority government and the opposition took advantage of the marriage to weaken his position further. They opposed the ennoblement of Albert and granted him a smaller annuity than previous consorts, £30,000 instead of the usual £50,000. Albert claimed that he had no need of a British peerage; he wrote, ‘It would almost be a step downwards, for as a Duke of Saxony, I feel myself much higher than a Duke of York or Kent.'” (Albert, Prince Consort) Victoria suggested “King Consort,” but that, too, was denied Albert. For eighteen years, her husband was addressed only as “Prince Albert.” In 1858, Victoria honored him with the titular dignity of “Prince Consort.” 

“[They] would ultimately have nine children. Initially, Albert felt constrained by his position as consort, which did not confer any power or duties upon him. Over time he lent his support to many public causes, such as educational reform and the worldwide abolition of slavery, and took on the responsibilities of running the Queen’s household, estates and office. He was heavily involved with the organisation of the Great Exhibition of 1851, which was a resounding success.

“As the Queen depended more and more on his help and guidance, Albert aided in the development of Britain’s constitutional monarchy by persuading his wife to show less partisanship in her dealings with Parliament—although he actively disagreed with the interventionist foreign policy pursued during Lord Palmerston’s tenure as Foreign Secretary.” (Albert, Prince Consort)

Victoria and Albert were together for 20 years before his death at age 42. The Queen grieved for the loss of her husband for an additional 40 years until her death.

 

 

Posted in British history, customs and tradiitons, Georgian England, Georgian Era, marriage, marriage customs, Regency era, titles of aristocracy, Victorian era | Tagged , , , | 5 Comments

Celebrating the Release of “The Pemberley Ball: A Pride and Prejudice Vagary Novella” with an Excerpt + Giveaway

Posted on April 8, 2016 by Regina Jeffers

51sa67KvExL._SX327_BO1,204,203,200_ “The Pemberley Ball” originally appeared in The Road to Pemberley: An Anthology of New Pride and Prejudice Stories, published by Ulysses Press in 2011. Each author whose work was included in the anthology received a one time payment (in lieu of royalties). He/she maintained the rights to his/her story. I have chosen to rework my original story and re-release. It is now a 36,000+ word novella rather than a short story.

That being said, you should know that I wrote several versions of this story, and I have made many changes from the one printed in the anthology. For one thing, I am so much wiser about the Regency period than I was in 2011. In other words, the historical elements are more accurate. Secondly, I have added passages and description that I could not include in the original because of the limited word count permitted for each story in the anthology. Finally, I have decided to include three versions of the story’s climax in this new release. Therefore, when the reader reaches Part 5 of the story, he/she will find three passages; the first shows the constantly in command Mr. Darcy. This is the one we all know and love. He anticipates every possible obstacle in his way and perseveres. The second proves Mr. Darcy the consummate Alpha Male. Personally, I liked this Darcy. He goes after what he wants and permits the chips to fall where they may. However, one of my Beta readers was not so enthralled with this characterization. Let me know what you think when you read the story. The third gives our hero the opportunity to proclaim his frustrations with Elizabeth, as well as with Mr. Wickham. This one will likely be the most popular of the offerings for Wickham receives his comeuppance. The reader may choose to read alternate passage #1, #2 or #3 or all of them.

TPB eBook Cover (1) copyBack Cover:

Elizabeth Bennet’s acceptance of his hand in marriage presents FITZWILLIAM DARCY a hope of the world being different. Elizabeth offers warmth and naturalness and a bit of defiance; but there is vulnerability also. With characteristic daring, she boldly withstood Caroline Bingley’s barbs, while displaying undying devotion to her sister Jane. More unpredictably, she verbally fenced with the paragon of crudeness, his aunt, Lady Catherine, and walked away relatively unscathed. One often finds his betrothed self-mockingly entertaining her sisters and friends, and despite Darcy’s best efforts, the woman makes him laugh. She brings lightness to his spirit after so many years of grief.

Unfortunately for ELIZABETH BENNET, what begins gloriously turns to concern for their future. She recognizes her burgeoning fears as unreasonable; yet, she cannot displace them. She refuses to speculate on what Mr. Darcy will say when he learns she is not the brilliant choice he proclaims her to be. Moreover, she does not think she can submit to the gentleman’s staid lifestyle. Not even for love can Elizabeth accept capitulation.

Will Elizabeth set her qualms aside to claim ‘home’ in the form of the man she truly affects or will her courage fail her? Enjoy a bit of mayhem that we commonly call “Happily Ever After,” along with three alternate turning points to this tale of love and loss and love again from Austen-inspired author, Regina Jeffers.

EXCERPT:

(You may read the beginning of Part 1 on Austen Authors HERE.) The excerpt below is a continuation of the scene.)

“I suppose my mother forgets that I, too, have a wedding to plan,” Elizabeth said softly beside him. They sat together in a small Longbourn drawing room.

As was typical, after the evening meal, Mr. Bennet retreated to his study to read. Miss Kitty examined the latest fashion plates, and Miss Mary practiced her music. Mrs. Bennet demanded that Miss Bennet and Bingley join her in her sitting room to finalize plans for their wedding breakfast. So, although others remained in the room, he and Elizabeth were essentially alone.

With a deep sigh, Elizabeth turned to him. “It is abhorrent of me to complain after all your ministrations on my sister’s behalf. Forgive me, Mr. Darcy.”

Darcy watched her features carefully, expecting Elizabeth to turn her moment of envy into another disparagement on her own failings, but she did not perform to expectations. Evidently, this was one of those private moments. Elizabeth would show him a face, which spoke the truth: Her mother’s preference bruised his future wife’s ego.

“I would forgive you anything, Elizabeth, if you could see your way clear to call me something less formal than Mr. Darcy. In private, could you not consider my given name?”

Elizabeth’s smile broke her mouth’s line. “You wish for me to call you Fitzwilliam?”

“If Fitzwilliam does not suit you, the family often calls me ‘William.’ With Fitzwilliam being the family name for my mother’s brother and my cousins, ‘William’ causes less confusion.”

“I would be honored,” she said softly.

“Then say it, Elizabeth,” he whispered hoarsely.

An inexplicable emotion spread through his veins, and Darcy’s breathing suddenly constricted. His gaze slid over her. Elizabeth’s eyes mesmerized him. She looked upon him, her head angled to bare the length of her throat. Darcy noted the pulse point at the base of her neck throbbed as prominently as did his. He wished to touch her, to caress her cheeks, to bury his hand in the thickness of her hair. The effect Elizabeth had on him always took Darcy by surprise. A pleasant surprise! But a surprise nonetheless. Elizabeth leaned in, unaware of what her nearness did to his composure.

“William, did I tell you how pleased I am to become your wife?” she murmured.

Darcy swallowed a shot of desire shooting through him. He planned to kiss Elizabeth this evening–actually dreamed how it would be. His finger now traced a line from her temple to her chin.

“You, my dearest, loveliest Elizabeth, do not know how often I prayed to hear my name upon your lips, and the fact that you express a pleasure in our future joining raises my hopes of our marital felicity.”

Realizing the impropriety they practiced, with a slight blush, Elizabeth leaned back, placing distance between them.

“May we speak of the wedding, Sir?”

Darcy frowned with the return of formality, but he said evenly, “Most assuredly, Miss Elizabeth. What do you wish to settle?”

Elizabeth turned to sit more squarely on.

“It would…it would seem, Sir, that we must agree on the ceremony’s date. Do you favor a long engagement?”

Darcy straightened his shoulders, a posture he instinctively adopted when completing business transactions; after all, among his society, marriage was a business.

“I waited to claim you for a year. I must admit that I am of the persuasion to finalize that claim as quickly as possible, but I am not insensitive to the fact that this is a greater change for you. You must leave your home and family behind to start a new life with me. And although I want none but you on Pemberley’s staircase waiting for my anticipated return from a business journey or from a day in the fields with my tenants, I will understand if you insist on a longer waiting period.”

Elizabeth blushed again. “You thought of me with you at Pemberley, William?” she asked sweetly.

Darcy smiled at her return to flirting with him. “You would be quite shocked, Elizabeth, at how often each day that you enter my mind.”

“How often?” she prompted innocently.

“Too often,” he growled in hushed tones. “And in too many ways,” he purposely said to shock her.

If this conversation continued, he would embarrass himself with an increase in his manhood.

“Oh!” she gasped. An elongated pause followed. Elizabeth glanced toward where her sister sketched changes in a dress pattern.

“Other than my father, I do not believe anyone at Longbourn will realize I am absent,” she mumbled. Elizabeth swallowed her obvious moment of regret and then presented Darcy a fresh smile. “A shorter engagement appears advisable,” she said with more confidence. “Mr. Bingley tells me that the roads to the north can become more hazardous as winter approaches. If we are to Derbyshire, it would be judicious to do so sooner rather than later.”

“Mr. Bingley is correct: Derbyshire winters can be quite cruel. Moreover, I would wish to celebrate the festive days at Pemberley. Georgiana and I spent the last few Christmases in London. It is my dream to bring you to my home and for you to share it with my sister. With your acceptance, I instructed Mrs. Reynolds to set plans for a winter ball. We have not held one at Pemberley for more than a decade. I will introduce my new wife to my close family and the neighborhood. It will make your transition as the estate’s mistress easier.”

Elizabeth attempted to hide her apprehension, but Darcy took due note of it.

“Then after the calling of the banns…how much longer after the vicar makes the third call?” she thought aloud.

Darcy smiled at her. It amazed him how nervous Elizabeth was about the reality of their joining. He held the advantage in that manner, for Darcy long ago began imagining their life together.

“Although I do not know why you insist upon a calling of the banns, when I could easily purchase a standard license, if the choice of dates is to be mine, the day following the third calling.”

“Despite Mr. Bennet being a gentleman who recognizes a calling of banns is, generally, not done among our social class, my father believes the neighborhood that  depends upon his charity deserve to know of Longbourn’s happiness. But more importantly to the issue at hand, my sister and Mr. Bingley chose the Monday after our third Sunday calling for their date. Had you thought of a double wedding? Is that your wish, Mr. Darcy?”

Darcy’s frown lines met. “I never considered a double wedding as a possibility, nor did I foresee our final banns being called so close to Miss Bennet’s chosen day.” In spite of a bit of apprehension, Darcy infused his voice with an encouraging tone. “Notwithstanding my close association with Bingley, I would not be pleased to share the day of your and my joining with him and Miss Bennet. I would have you gloried in your own right as my wife.”

Elizabeth expelled a sigh of relief.

“Thank you for understanding, William,” she whispered. “I love Jane, but the day I am named Mrs. Darcy is not a day I would want to half with another.”

“Then a week after the final calling,” he declared. “That is a month from this Sunday. Is that sufficient time, Elizabeth?”

“It is perfect, William. The first week of November,” she said wistfully.

* * *

“Your hat, Mr. Darcy.” Elizabeth teased him by clinging to Darcy’s arm, and he knew a sense of satisfaction.

“Walk me out,” he said softly as he caught her hand and tugged Elizabeth along behind him. As quickly as they were away from the lights streaming from Longbourn’s windows, Darcy pulled her into his embrace.

“William,” she giggled, but Elizabeth came willingly against him, resting her head on Darcy’s chest. He wrapped his great coat about her to keep her both warm and in his embrace.

He bent his head to speak to her ear. “Elizabeth,” he rasped, “it is my intention to kiss you.” He felt her stiffen with uncertainty. “If you do not wish me to do so at this time, then you should return to the house immediately.”

Darcy waited for her decision. When she remained in his arms, he felt the exhilaration: Elizabeth would accept his kiss. He lifted her chin and lowered his mouth to hers.

He kept one arm about her to steady her. With his other hand, Darcy cupped her chin, tilting her head gently upward. Elizabeth was an innocent, and he moved slowly, permitting her to withdraw if she became frightened.

At length, he brushed his lips across hers before adding a bit of pressure. A slow caress of mouth against mouth. A gentle nip. He skimmed his tongue along the seam of Elizabeth’s lips, and she opened for him. Even then, Darcy did not deepen the kiss–just enjoyed the possibility. After a few moments, he reluctantly ended the pleasure of knowing her intimately.

“You are delicious,” he whispered seductively.

Elizabeth clung to his coat’s lapels, but she breathed the words, “So are you.”

Darcy recognized her blush’s heat when she realized what she had said. He bent to kiss the tip of Elizabeth’s nose.

“We will take my curricle and see some of the countryside tomorrow,” he declared.

“Orders, Mr. Darcy?” Elizabeth taunted as she released her hold on his lapels.

He slid his hands down Elizabeth’s arms, capturing her hands in his. Darcy chuckled. “As you, my dear, are new to courtship, needless to say, you will not object if I issue orders. It is only after we marry that you will voice your opposition.”

Elizabeth stepped back to release his hold on her, her hands fisting at her waist. “Have you learned nothing of my nature, Mr. Darcy? There is a stubbornness about me that never can bear to be frightened at the will of others. My courage always rises with every attempt to intimidate me.”

Darcy laughed warmly. “Now there is the Elizabeth Bennet who plagued my every waking moment for a year.”

He caught her hand again and led Elizabeth to where his horse stood waiting. “I will call for you at eleven.”

“Yes, William,” she said in a coy taunt. “I shall be anticipating it.” Elizabeth emphasized her tone’s sweetness.

With fondness in his gesture, Darcy kissed her forehead.

“Good evening, Elizabeth. I, too, will anticipate the day.”

Purchase Links: 

Amazon    

Kindle        

Nook 

Kobo       

CreateSpace      

NOW, FOR THE GIVEAWAY. I HAVE THREE eBOOKS OF “THE PEMBERLEY BALL” AVAILABLE TO THOSE WHO COMMENT BELOW. RANDOM.ORG WILL CHOOSE THE WINNERS. THE GIVEAWAY WILL END AT MIDNIGHT, EDST, ON WEDNESDAY, APRIL 13, 2016. 

Posted in book excerpts, book release, customs and tradiitons, eBooks, Jane Austen, Living in the Regency, Living in the UK, marriage, marriage customs, marriage licenses, Pride and Prejudice, publishing, Regency era, Regency romance, romance, Uncategorized, Vagary, writing | Tagged , , , , , , , | 15 Comments

Jane Austen’s Love of the British Navy

Posted on April 6, 2016 by Regina Jeffers
battle_of_trafalgar

Battle of Trafalgar – British Royal Navy: Nelson: Napoleonic Wars http://www.napolun.com

In referring to the cult-like following of those who extolled all things involving Admiral Horatio Nelson, Jane Austen once wrote, “I am sick of Nelson.” Yet, the author always appreciated the lives of men in the Royal Navy. Two of her brothers served thusly. The British Navy at the time of the Napoleonic War was divided into “ships of the line,” those carrying between 60 and 100 guns, and “cruisers,” which were frigates, sloops, and brigs with fewer guns. In 1810, British naval strength was estimated to be 150+ ships of the line and near 400 cruisers. Documents on the naval history sites say that the Navy employed 800+captains, 600+ commanders, and nearly 3300 lieutenants.

During the Napoleonic Wars, the size of the British fleet was greater than all the other sea-faring nations put together.

Namur-Wiki-Commons-578x289

THE REMAINS OF AN 18TH CENTURY SHIP HAVE BEEN IDENTIFIED THROUGH DETECTIVE WORK ON HER TIMBERS AS THE NAMUR, WHOSE CREWS INCLUDED JANE AUSTEN’S SEAFARING BROTHER CHARLES, AND OLAUDAH EQUIANO, THE MOST FAMOUS BLACK WRITER AND ANTI-SLAVERY ACTIVIST OF GEORGIAN ENGLAND. http://www.allempires.com /forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=32226

The British Isles remained safe behind the “Wooden Walls” of the Royal Navy, and Britain was able to continue its world trade and empire building. They controlled English Channel and trading routes with size of their fleet, but Britain also actively sent its vessels out to attack enemy warships. With its strength in numbers and its developing naval industry, Britain could risk losing a ship or two to protect the British people.

In 1797, 1801, and 1807, the British navy sailed to destroy the neutral or French-allied vessels of Holland and Denmark. At Camperdown in 1797, Admiral Duncan pitted his 16 ships against 16 Dutch warships under Admiral de Winter and destroyed the enemy fleet – capturing seven Dutchmen and allowing the rest to flee.

In April 1801, the Admirality sent an expedition against Denmark to break up a northern European agreement, the Armed Neutrality of the North, that threatened British trade and shipbuilding materiel – wood, rope, grain and tar – in the Baltic Sea.

The naval Battle of Copenhagen was a British victory that saw 12 of 18 Danish vessels captured and ended the threat to its trade. In 1807, Britain again moved against Denmark when it became known there was a French move to grab the Danish fleet. Admiral Gambier took 20 ships of the line and an infantry force of some 20,000 men – including Arthur Wellesley (yes, that is the Duke of Wellington) – to prevent the vessels falling into French hands. A two-week siege began and a Danish military move to break the blockade was ended by Wellesley’s infantry. The bombardment of the capital by the Royal Navy forced neutral Denmark to hand over its 18 ships to London.

8da5ca92f9fcf9445f0e93c8db5f79d5

Rear Admiral Charles Austen, youngest of the Austen brothers

Jane Austen’s brothers entered the navy at the age of 12 and first went to sea at age 15. Naval life was a hard one, and many believed it necessary “to toughen up the boys.” Unlike in the army, naval commissions could not be bought. It was necessary to succeed in a naval career to have the patronage of an influential personage. If one knows of Admiral Crawford in Mansfield Park, this makes more sense. A man earned his future in prize money. Do we not recall Captains Wentworth, Benwick, and Harville in Persuasion? The captain would receive one-fourth of the value of the captured ship. His officers would receive graduated proportions, and ordinary seamen divided the final quarter among themselves. InPersuasion, Wentworth has earned 20,000 pounds in his eight years of service. Men learned to look forward to another war so they might continue their winning ways.”

Excerpt from Jane Austen’s Persuasion:

Upon letting Sir Walter’s estate, Mr. Shepherd, who is Sir Walter Elliot’s man of business, ventures a suggestion:

“If a rich Admiral were to come in our way. . . “

“He would be a very lucky man, Shepherd,” replied Sir Walter. “That’s all I have to remark.”

“I presume to observe, Sir Walter, that, in the way of business, gentlemen of the navy are very well to deal with. . .I am free to confess that they have very liberal notions and are as likely to make desirable tenants as any set of people one should meet with.”

Sir Walter only nodded. But soon afterwards, rising and pacing the room, he observed sarcastically, “There are few among the gentlemen of the navy, I imagine, who would not be surprised to find themselves in a house of this description.”

Here Sir Walter’s daughter Anne spoke, “The navy, I think, who have done so much for us, have at least an equal claim with any other set of men, for all the comforts and all the privileges which any home can give. Sailors work hard enough for their comforts, we must all allow.”

“Very true, very true. What Miss Anne says, is very true,’ was Mr. Shepherd’s rejoinder, and “Oh! certainly,” was his daughter’s; but Sir Walter’s remark was, soon afterwards. “The profession has its utility, but I should be sorry to see any friend of mine belonging to it.”

“Indeed!” was the reply, and with a look of surprise.

“Yes; it is in two points offensive to me; I have two strong grounds of objection to it. First, as being the means of bringing persons of obscure birth into undue distinction, and raising men to honours which their fathers and grandfathers never dreamt of; and secondly, as it cuts up a man’s youth and vigour most horribly; a sailor grows old sooner than any other man; I have observed it all my life. A man is in greater danger in the navy of being insulted by the rise of one whose father, his father might have distained to speak to, and of becoming prematurely an object of disgust himself, than in any other line. One day last spring, in town, I was in company with two men, striking instances of what I am talking of, Lord St. Ives, whose father we all know to have been a country curate, without bread to eat; I was to give place to Lord St. Ives, and a certain Admiral Baldwin, the most deplorable looking personage you can imagine, his face the colour of mahogany, rough and rugged to the last degree, all lines and wrinkles, nine grey hairs of a side, and nothing but a dab of powder at top.– ‘Inthe name of heaven, who is that old fellow?’ said I, to a friend of mine who was standing near (Sir Basil Morley). ‘Old fellow!’ cried Sir Basil, ‘it is Admiral Baldwin. What do you take his age to be?’ ‘Sixty,’ said I, ‘or perhaps sixty-two.’ ‘Forty,’ replied Sir Basil, ‘forty, and no more.’ Picture to yourselves my amazement; I shall not easily forget Admiral Baldwin. I never saw quite so wretched an example of what a sea-faring life can do; but to a degree, I know it is the same with them all: they are all knocked about, and exposed to every climate, and every weather, till they are not fit to be seen. It is a pity they are not knocked on the head at once, before they reach Admiral Baldwin’s age.”

It seemed as if Mr. Shepherd, in this anxiety to bespeak Sir Walter’s goodwill towards a naval officer as tenant had been gifted with foresight; for the very first application was from an Admiral Croft. . .

“And who is Admiral Croft?” was Sir Walter’s cold suspicious enquiry.

Mr. Shepherd answered for his being of a gentleman’s family, and mentioned a place; and Anne, after the little pause that followed, added, “He is rear admiral of the white. He was in the Trafalgar action, and has been in the East Indies since; he has been stationed there, I believe, several years.”

“Then I take it for granted,” observed Sir Walter, “that his face is about as orange as the cuffs and capes of my livery.”

Posted in British history, British Navy, Georgian England, Georgian Era, Great Britain, Jane Austen, Living in the Regency, real life tales, Regency era, Regency personalities | Tagged , , , , , , , | 6 Comments

I See Austen’s Influence Everywhere!!!!

Posted on April 5, 2016 by Regina Jeffers

anigif_enhanced-buzz-30792-1384199509-0As much as I love Jane Austen, one of my best friends loves Elizabeth Gaskell equally as well. I admit to having read only three Gaskell pieces in my time: Cranford, North and South, and Mary Barton. Last Christmas Season, I reread Cranford, but it has been many years since I have truly studied Gaskell’s works. However, recently, I agreed I would reread North and South, and my friend Jas and I would have a two-person book discussion. (Unfortunately, I’m a bit behind in my reading for I am working on several new novels). Gaskell’s brilliance lies in her ability to negotiate the relationships between the social classes, while adding Unitarian values of freedom, reason, and tolerance.

That being said, first, permit me to clarify one major misconception regarding North and South. That delicious scene in the mini-series where Margaret Hale (Daniela Denby-Ashe) spies on John Thornton (Richard Armitage) at his factory, and the air is filled with the cotton fibers, is NOT in the book. The director, Brian Percival, and screenwriter, Sandy Welch, have followed in the traditional romantic period dramas of the late 1990s and early 2000s. They have done to John Thornton what Andrew Davies did to Mr. Darcy; they have turned Thornton into a “sex symbol.” And like many women, I APPROVE!!!! 

So, you may ask, why discuss Gaskell’s North and South on a blog, essentially dedicated to the Regency era and Jane Austen? Well, the problem lies in the fact I see Darcy and Elizabeth and Pride and Prejudice‘s influence in Gaskell’s passages. I am not suggesting Ms. Gaskell “borrowed” her ideas from my Miss Jane. On the contrary, the fault lies with me. I see Austen’s influence in story line after story line, most recently in Heyer’s The Quiet Gentleman, as well as a novella that smacked of Persuasion, with a hero sailor removed from his love for eight years and the heroine appearing dowdy looking upon his return. 

As to North and South, take, for example, in Chapter 7, “New Scenes and Faces,” I imagine Darcy realizing Elizabeth’s power over him when I read, “Mr. Thornton was in habits of authority himself, but she seemed to assume some kind of rule over him at once. He had been getting impatient at the loss of his time on a market-day, the moment before she appeared, yet now he calmly took a seat at her bidding.”

tumblr_mibz92jpZi1ql9ebno2_250From the same chapter, Thornton’s first meeting with Miss Hale could easily have been the one that occurred between Darcy and Elizabeth Bennet. “She sat facing him and facing the light; her full beauty met his eye; her round white flexile throat rising out of the full, yet lithe figure; her lips, moving so slightly as she spoke, not breaking the cold serene look of her face with any variation from the one lovely haughty curve; her eyes, with their soft gloom, meeting his with quiet maiden freedom. He almost said to himself that he did not like her, before their conversation ended; he tried so to compensate himself for the mortified feeling, that while he looked upon her with an admiration he could not repress, she looked at him with proud indifference, taking him, he thought, for what, in his irritation, he told himself he was–a great rough fellow, with not a grace or a refinement about him. Her quiet coldness of demeanour he interpreted into contemptuousness, and resented it in his heart to the pitch of almost inclining him to get up and go away, and have nothing more to do with these Hales, and their superciliousness.”

nandsepi2-213danieladenbyasheasmargarethaleatthemastersdinnermar2812raonline1From Chapter 10, “Wrought Iron and Gold,” Thornton and Margaret have a heated discussion over the merits of living in the North versus residing in the South. I was reminded of Darcy and Elizabeth saying, “And your defect is a propensity to hate everybody.”

“And yours,” he replied, with a smile, “is willfully to misunderstand them.”

John Thornton and Miss Hale says, “You do not know anything about the South. If there is less adventure or less progress–I suppose I must not say less excitement–from the gambling spirit of trade, which seems requisite to force out these wonderful inventions, there is less suffering also…. You do not know the South, Mr.Thornton,” she concluded, collapsing into a determined silence, and angry with herself for having said so much.

“And may I say you do not know the North?” said he.

Later on, when Thornton means to shake Margaret’s hand in farewell, but Margaret is unfamiliar with the custom, I am reminded of Elizabeth’s refusal to dance with Darcy at Sir William Lucas’s house, and of Elizabeth’s initial “first impression” of Darcy. “When Mr. Thornton rose up to go away, after shaking hands with Mr. and Mrs. Hale, he made an advance to Margaret to wish her good-bye in a similar manner. It was the frank familiar custom of the place; but Margaret was not prepared for it. She simply bowed her farewell; although the instant she saw the hand, half put out, quickly drawn back, she was sorry she had not been aware of the intention. Mr. Thornton, however, knew nothing of her sorrow, and, drawing himself up to his full height, walked off, muttering as he left the house– ‘A more proud, disagreeable girl I never saw. Even her great beauty is blotted out of one’s memory by her scornful ways.’”

From Chapter 9, Thornton explains to his mother that Miss Hale has not set her sights on him. “‘Well! I only say, take care. Perhaps our Milton girls have too much spirit and good feeling to go angling after husbands; but this Miss Hale comes out of the aristocratic counties, where, if all tales be true, rich husbands are reckoned prizes.’

Mr. Thornton’s brow contracted, and he came a step forward into the room. ‘Mother’ (with a short scornful laugh), ‘you will make me confess. The only time I saw Miss Hale, she treated me with a haughty civility which had a strong flavour of contempt in it. She held herself aloof from me as if she had been a queen, and I her humble, unwashed vassal. Be easy, mother.’”

Although the situation is reversed: Thornton is rich, but of the working class, and Miss Hale is poor, but of the genteel class. Despite her poverty, the lady does not view Mr. Thornton as a possible suitor, but he is enthralled with her with his first glance. In fact, Chapter 11 is entitled “First Impressions.” Must I say more???

Posted in customs and tradiitons, Georgian Era, historical fiction, Jane Austen, Pride and Prejudice, Regency era, Uncategorized, Victorian era | Tagged , , , , , | 7 Comments

Happy April Birthdays to Some of Our Favorite “Austen” Actors

Posted on April 1, 2016 by Regina Jeffers

images-1.jpegApril brings us twenty actors who have held roles in Austen-inspired film adaptations. How many of these below are among your favorites?

 

250243.1April 1 – JJ Feild, who portrayed Henry Tilney in 2007’s Northanger Abbey, as well as Mr Henry Nobley in Austenland

 

imgres-1April 2 – Penelope Keith, who portrayed Lady Catherine de Bourgh in Death Comes to Pemberley

 

Matthew-Goode-on-Death-Comes-to-Pemberley_home_top_storyApril 3 – Matthew Goode, who portrayed George Wickham in Death Comes to Pemberley

 

MV5BMTg0OTEyOTE0NV5BMl5BanBnXkFtZTcwODI3MzcyNA@@._V1_UX214_CR0,0,214,317_AL_April 3 – Marsha Mason, who portrayed Catherine Darcy in Bride and Prejudice

 

images-1April 5 – Hayley Atwell, who portrayed Mary Crawford in 2007’s Mansfield Park 

 

imgresApril 5 – Lily James, who portrayed Elizabeth Bennet in Pride and Prejudice and Zombies 

 

imagesApril 5 – Tom Riley, who portrayed George Wickham in Lost in Austen

 

searchApril 6 – Paul Rudd, who portrayed Josh in Clueless

 

Andrew Osborn Angels One Five (1953)April 9 – Andrew Osborn, who portrayed Fitzwilliam Darcy in 1938’s Pride and Prejudice (9 April 1912 to 13 March 1985)

 

PDVD_078-1April 14 – Michelle Duncan, who portrayed Charlotte Lucas in Lost in Austen 

 

images-2April 15 – Emma Thompson, who portrayed Elinor Dashwood in 1995’s Sense and Sensibility 

 

829full-lucila-soláApril 17 – Lucila Solá, who portrayed Jane Vasquez in Pride and Prejudice: A Latter Day Comedy 

 

imgres-2April 19 – Hugh O’Conor, who portrayed James Moreland in 2007’s Northanger Abbey

 

images-3April 21 – James Mcavoy, who portrayed Tom Lefroy in Becoming Jane

 

imgres-3April 22 – Michelle Ryan, who portrayed Maria Bertram in 2007’s Mansfield Park

 

images-4April 25 – Renée Zellweger, who portrayed Bridget Jones in Bridget Jones’ Diary, Bridget Jones: The Edge of Reason, and Bridget Jones’ Baby

 

images-5April 26 – Susannah Harker, who portrayed Jane Bennet in 1995’s Pride and Prejudice 

 

images-7April 27 – Anna Chancellor, who portrayed Miss Caroline Bingley in 1995’s Pride and Prejudice 

 

images-8April 27 – Jenna Coleman, who portrayed Lydia Bennet in Death Comes to Pemberley

 

images-6April 27 – Sally Hawkins, who portrayed Anne Elliot in 2007’s Persuasion

 

 

 

Posted in Austen actors, birthdays, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

An Introduction into Anglo-Norman Early Drama

Posted on March 28, 2016 by Regina Jeffers
Slide01

The History of Theatre According to Dr Jack: Medieval Theatre I heironimohrkach.blogspot.com

Drama arose in the Tenth Century in certain monasteries when modifications to the mass occurred. Scenes of the Master’s life began to be represented in the churches, especially during the holier holidays. Many could not read and so the use of “plays” told the tales the monks wished to share. It was a means to explain a new religion to the illiterate. Dramatized versions of particular Biblical stories were included to vivify annual celebrations. Using symbolic objects to convey the tale’s meaning, the priests used pantomime to explain the events of Christian ritual celebrations. “These performances developed into liturgical dramas, the earliest of which is the Whom do you Seek (Quem-Quaeritis) Easter trope, dating from ca. 925. Liturgical drama was sung responsively by two groups and did not involve actors impersonating characters. However, sometime between 965 and 975, Æthelwold of Winchester composed the Regularis Concordia (Monastic Agreement), which contains a playlet complete with directions for performance.” (Medieval Theatre)

The plays were performed in or near a church. “Although they had their roots in the Christian liturgy, such plays were not performed as essential parts of a standard church service. The language of the liturgical drama was Latin, and the dialogue was frequently chanted to simple monophonic melodies. Music was also used in the form of incidental dance and processional tunes.” (Liturgical Drama)

Roswitha_of_Gandersheim

Hrosvitha of Gandersheim, the first dramatist of the post-classical era. Wikipedia Public Domain

Among the offerings in what we might call Medieval theatre we have liturgical dramas, mystery plays, morality plays, farces and masques. Hrotsvitha of Gandersheim was the first person to compose drama in the Latin West. She was a 10th Century German secular canoness, dramatist, and poet. The work of those during this period were moral and religious in nature, themes, and stagings. Among the most famous of the plays from this period are the York Mystery Plays, the Chester Mystery Plays, the Wakefield Mystery Plays and the N-Town Plays, as well as the morality play, Everyman. 

Early on guilds, students, and scholars performed plays based on the Old Testament from Creation to the Last Judgment. By 1300, the religious plays had become guild plays. Simply speaking, a “miracle play” is a dramatic representation of the life of a saint, including the miracles associated with his/her life; while a “mystery play” is one dealing with gospel events concerning any phase of the life of Christ. 

“Miracle play, also called Saint’s Play,  one of three principal kinds of vernacular drama the European Middle Ages. A miracle play presents a real or fictitious account of the life, miracles, or martyrdom of a saint. The genre evolved from liturgical offices developed during the 10th and 11th centuries to enhance calendar festivals. By the 13th century they had become vernacularized and filled with unecclesiastical elements. They had been divorced from church services and were performed at public festivals. Almost all surviving miracle plays concern either the Virgin Mary or St. Nicholas, the 4th-century bishop of Myra in Asia Minor. Both Mary and Nicholas had active cults during the Middle Ages, and belief in the healing powers of saintly relics was widespread. In this climate, miracle plays flourished.” (Miracle Play)

800px-ChesterMysteryPlay_300dpi

Nineteenth-century engraving of a performance from the Chester mystery play cycle. Wikipedia Public Domain

According to Britannica, mystery plays were “one of three principal kinds of vernacular drama in Europe during the Middle Ages. The mystery plays, usually representing Biblical subjects, developed from plays presented in Latin by churchmen on church premises and depicted such subjects as the Creation, Adam and Eve, the murder of Abel, and the Last Judgment. During the 13th century, various guilds began producing the plays in the vernacular at sites removed from the churches. Under these conditions, the strictly religious nature of the plays declined, and they became filled with irrelevancies and apocryphal elements. Furthermore, satirical elements were introduced to mock physicians, soldiers, judges, and even monks and priests. In England, over the course of decades, groups of 25 to 50 plays were organized into lengthy cycles, such as the Chester plays and the Wakefield plays. In France a single play, The Acts of the Apostles by Arnoul and Simon Gréban, contained 494 speaking parts and 61,908 lines of rhymed verse; it took 40 days to perform. They died out in many areas with the Reformation.”

In their prime, Miracle plays were acted on wooden platforms mounted on wheels. There were two stories to those movable stages, with the upper level used as the stage. In York, once a year, the whole history of the religious world would be viewed by the populace. Each company (trade guild) was assigned a time and place for its pageant. 

Much to the delight of the audience, a comic element crept into the plays occasionally. In the “2nd Shepherd’s Play,” for example, a character named Mak steals a sheep and takes it home to his wife. A knock is heard on the door. The wife puts the sheep in the crib and pretends it is a new born babe. Thus, she fools the shepherds searching for the sheep. They, however, return to give the new born a present only to discover the sheep. 

2012_0708_images_20_yorkplays

The Body of Christ | Humanities http://www.neh.gov Illustration of medieval mystery play.

Morality plays were “an allegorical drama popular in Europe especially during the 15th and 16th centuries, in which the characters personify moral qualities (such as charity or vice) or abstractions (as death or youth) and in which moral lessons are taught. The action of the morality play centres on a hero, such as Mankind, whose inherent weaknesses are assaulted by such personified diabolic forces as the Seven Deadly Sins but who may choose redemption and enlist the aid of such figures as the Four Daughters of God (Mercy, Justice, Temperance, and Truth). Morality plays were an intermediate step in the transition from liturgical to professional secular drama, and combine elements of each. They were performed by quasi-professional groups of actors who relied on public support; thus the plays were usually short, their serious themes tempered by elements of farce.” (Morality Play)

Morality plays gave more scope to the imagination for new plots and incidents and afforded the chance for delineation of characters. They were not confined to scriptures. They were first dull, but with the introduction of Vice, who played pranks similar to those of modern-day clowns, interest was aroused. The morality generally ended in the triumph of virtue, the devil leaping into Hell with Vice on his back. 

Visit History of Theatre for more information. One might also read The Finer Times.

 

Posted in Anglo-Normans, Church of England, drama, Great Britain, medieval, playwrights, religion, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , | Comments Off on An Introduction into Anglo-Norman Early Drama

Wollaton Hall in Nottinghamshire, English Renaissance at Its Best, and Home to “The Dark Knight Rises”

Posted on March 25, 2016 by Regina Jeffers

Partner56Robert Smythson began work on Wollaton Hall in 1580. The Hall was to be the home of Sir Francis Willoughby. Most experts think Smythson, who also designed Hardwick Hall, in the same area, appears to have used Mount Edgcumbe in Cornwall as his inspiration. Masons from Italy reportedly worked on the house. The Italian connection explains the rather odd series of rings for mooring gondolas affixed to the Hall’s exterior walls. The house is an astounding example of English Renaissance architecture. The interior was remodelled after a fire in 1642 and again in the early 19th century, but the exterior remains essentially as it would have looked when it was finished in 1588. (Britain Express)

“One of the most interesting historic features is a 17th century pipe organ in the main hall gallery, which has to be worked by hand. The ceiling of this chamber boasts paintings attributed to Antonio Verrio. Above the hall is a Prospect Room, reached by a slender spiral stair and designed to give broad views over the surrounding parkland. One of the most unusual features is a well with a reservoir tank apparently used by a hardy Willoughby for a daily bath.

“The Tudor kitchens have been restored to their original condition, and furnished following a written inventory of 1601. Then there’s the Dining Room, showing how it looked after it was restored by Sir Jeffry Wyatville for the 6th Lord Middleton in the early 19th century. The Regency Salon has been restored to the way it looked in 1832.

“The Willougby family resided at Wollaton until the late 19th century before letting it to a series of tenants. By 1881 the house stood empty before it was purchased by the Nottingham City Council as a venue for the Nottingham Natural History Museum.” (Britain Express)

Back_of_Wollaton_Hall_-_geograph.org.uk_-_334270

Back of Wollaton Hall Back of Wollaton Hall with statue in frame. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ Wollaton_Hall#/media/File: Back_of_Wollaton_Hall_-_geograph.org.uk_-_334270.jpg

The exterior of the house was surrounded by a vast deer park, containing some 1200 deer. The house has some 365 windows and is approached by a three-quarters’ mile long drive, which is bordered by ninety-foot-high lime trees. Statues of a Roman mythology influence can be found about the grounds, many discreetly hidden behind trees. It seems a former Lady Middleton found the displayed “nudity” offensive and had the statues blocked from the view from the terrace. 

The house held two wine cellars: One was 42 feet by 20 feet and the other 36 feet by 12 feet. They houses huge vats of madeira and table wines, each resting upon wooden trestles. Each trestle could hold 1500 gallons of ale. 

At the back of the house, stables with separate stalls capable of accommodating up to sixty hours were reached by crossing through a noble arched gateway. The coach house contained six or seven dark-blue carriages, drags, and the old family coach, whose panels were emblazoned with heraldic bearings and the family motto of “Truth without Fear.” A bakery, the laundry, a separate fowl-plucking house and some of the servants’ bedrooms were located nearby. A walled kitchen garden of nine acres contained 9700 square feet of glass and forcing houses for peaches, grapes, melons, and cucumbers to supply the Middleton’s dining table. 

3379712016_12fd2040de_z

ceiling of Wollaton Hall

“Wollaton is a classic prodigy house, ‘the architectural sensation of its age,’ though its builder was not a leading courtier and its construction stretched the resources he mainly obtained from coal mining; the original family home was at the bottom of the hill. Though much remodeled inside, the “startlingly bold” exterior remains largely intact. The floor plan has been said to derive from Serlio’s drawing (in Book III of his Five Books of Architecture) of Giuliano de Majano’s Villa Poggie Reale near Naples of the late 15th century, with elevations derived from Hans Vredeman de Vries. The architectural historian Mark Girouard  has suggested that the design is in fact derived from Nikolaus de Lyra’s reconstruction, and Josephus’ description, of Solomon’s Temple in Jerusalem.

“The building consists of a central block dominated by a hall three storeys high, with a stone screen at one end and galleries at either end, with the “Prospect Room” above that. From this there are extensive views of the park and surrounding country. There are towers at each corner, projecting out from this top floor. At each corner of the house is a square pavilion of three storeys, with decorative features rising above the roof line. Much of the basement storey is cut from the rock the house sits on.

_83799069_dsc_0628-1“In 2011, key scenes from the Batman movie The Dark Knight Rises  were filmed outside Wollaton Hall. The Hall was featured as the latest Wayne Manor. The Hall is five miles north of  Gotham, Nottinghamshire where Gotham City got its name.” (Wollaton Hall)

Posted in architecture, British history, buildings and structures, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , | Comments Off on Wollaton Hall in Nottinghamshire, English Renaissance at Its Best, and Home to “The Dark Knight Rises”

Who Were The “Ton” and the “Beau Monde”?

Posted on March 24, 2016 by Regina Jeffers

Le bon ton is a French phrase meaning “the good style” or “good form.” One could be said to have good ton–meaning good style. So one could be part of the Ton, if one had the style for it–which is why Beau Brummell could be a leader of fashion and society despite not having much of a background (very middle class). The term beau monde came into use in the early 1700s; it literally means fine world. It is used for the fashionable world or high society.

Ton (le bon ton) tells us, “The ton” is a term commonly used to refer to Britain’s high society during the late Regency and the reign of George IV,  and later. It is a French word meaning (in this sense) “manners” or “style” and is pronounced as in French. The full phrase is le bon ton meaning “good manners” or “good form” – characteristics held as ideal by the British beau monde. The term le beau monde, literally meaning “the beautiful world” (but here meaning “fashionable people,” or “fashionable society”), was similar to le bon ton during the nineteenth century. “The ton” has also been used to refer to the Upper Ten Thousand of later 19th-century society, including most of the peerage, aristocracy and wealthy merchants or bankers of the City (of London).

The ton might be expanded to include the “upper ten thousand” (not just the upper four hundred). [Upper Ten Thousand, or simply, The Upper Ten, is a phrase coined in 1852 by American poet Nathaniel Parker Willis to describe the upper circles of New York, and hence of other major cities.] All things considered, a duke might have poor ton, while a mere mister might have le bon ton (as in with the Brummel, again, who had no title). Needless to say,  money/wealth could make a difference, but not without a sense of style or good form performed by the individual. And a title could matter, but if one had poor manners with that title, Society might well turn its back for displaying poor form.

John Mullan in a 2013 article for The Guardian tells us, “Toffs have always seemed to know how to keep the best things for themselves, especially when everyone is sure that their power is waning. It has long been conventional to see the 18th century as the period in which Britain passed out of the control of the court and the aristocracy. Commerce became the power in the land; new codes of politeness welded the propertied classes together, and these included more and more of ‘the middling sort.’ The patrons and philanthropists of this self-consciously modern society were the merchants and men of trade whose portraits were painted by Hogarth. Many of its cultural heroes – Samuel Richardson, David Garrick, Hogarth himself – came from humble backgrounds. The ancient régime was gone.

“[The] study of high society in the period corrects this impression. [The] 18th‑century aristocracy used fashion – and the willingness of the classes immediately below them to be dazzled by fashion – to assert their influence anew…. One small triumph of the ever-adaptable English upper class was to get this term, with its unmistakable tone of self-applause, accepted. There was a cluster of other words for those who embodied style and inhabited the rapidly spreading West End of London: ‘people of fashion,’ ‘the great world’ and, best of all, ‘the ton.’ The press stoked the public fascination with the most glittering members of this class.”

The  word ton was not used to refer to people as a whole in the Regency period, but for  discussing people of good taste. I am not certain, but perhaps it was Georgette Heyer who started calling the whole group of aristocrats the Ton.

George Brummell from the History of White's 1892v2Although the term referred to fashionable sect, that does mean the actual members of the “ton” used the word to stipulate members of their group. It is more likely that they would speak of those without manners or those who preened too much as the dandy set or fops. Then might consider a person of poor manners as “not of our sort.” Needless to say, they also thought that only the members of the upperclass, the well bred among them, could possess good taste. Beau Brummell, for example, would not have had any influence if he had not been a member of the Prince of Wales’ coterie and taken up by the Whigs. Though Brummell’s downfall is often spoken of as having started with his bad ton of arguing  with and then insulting the Prince Regent, but the timing also coincides with the  Whigs’ disenchantment with the Regent and the switching of sides by many on many issues. [For more on the Rise and Fall of Beau Brummell, visit Rachel Knowles’ Regency History.]

 While the Prince and  the Whigs were aligned, the Whigs castigated Prince George’s wife.  However, when the Whigs discovered that the Prince had gone back  on his promise to them, they started supporting Princess Caroline, while the Tories, who once had supported her now turned their backs on her. Who was in and who was out was not simply a person who broke the unspoken rules. Politics had much more to do with  things than we sometimes assumed.

The Ton were aristocrats and upper level gentry who attended the London Season and Little Season. This was much like an awards program with an A-list of celebrities.  To be on the “list,” one must possess proper family connections, be wealthy, own land, and appear untouched by trade or by the need to earn a living.  Young ladies presented to the Court were A-list, those who were not presented, but otherwise met the criteria to be invited to Almack’s were the B-list, etc. People advanced and grew richer through connections more than anything else at this time.)

tumblr_mbnx5tU3is1rpvjjio1_1280What do y’all think about using James Gillray’s print “Following the Fashion, St. James’s Giving the Ton a Soul Without a Body” from 1796 as documentation of the ton? (One can find the image at Draw Paint Print)

A quick glance through some of my reference books revealed there are also publications that use bon ton as a descriptor in their titles. The New Bon Ton Magazine (Telescope of the Times) that was published from 1818-1821.

Slang: A Dictionary of the Turf, the Ring, the Chase, the Pit, of Bon Ton and the Varieties of Life by John Bee in 1823. 

Playwright David Garrick’s comedy Bon Ton; or High Life Above Stairs was performed at the Theatre Royal Drury Lane on March 18, 1775.

The Cambridge Companion to British Theatre 1730-1830 documents dramatist Hannah Cowley referencing the bon ton society.

9780199659005I particularly like Hannah Greig’s The Beau Monde: Fashionable Society in Georgian London from Oxford University Press. The book contains…

  • The story of the world’s first fashion-obsessed society in eighteenth century London
  • A tale of dazzling excess, intrigue, vanity and glamour in a world re-made
  • Takes us on a tour from court and Parliament to Georgian London’s parks, pleasure grounds and private homes, meeting a rich and colourful cast of contemporary characters along the way
  • Reveals the secrets of how membership in the new elite was won, maintained – and sometimes lost
  • Shows how being a Fashionable was the key to power and exclusivity in a new social order

Posted in British history, customs and tradiitons, George IV, Georgian, Georgian England, Georgian Era, Great Britain, history, Living in the Regency, Living in the UK, political stance, Victorian era, William IV | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 7 Comments