Tag Archives: history

“Unusual” Medical Cures Found in History

I thought to look at what was acceptable medical practice during the Regency era and all through the past. We know, for example, that the lack of what we would now call “proper” medical procedures caused Princess Charlotte to lose … Continue reading

Posted in history, medicine, medieval | Tagged , , | 2 Comments

The Mechanical Turk, or the Chess-Playing Machine that Beat Napoleon, a Guest Post from Eliza Shearer

It was the year 1809. The Napoleonic Wars were in full swing, but the French general had other interests besides fighting the British over Spain and Portugal.  Around the time Jane Austen and her mother and sister moved to Chawton … Continue reading

Posted in Austen Authors, Georgian England, Georgian Era, Guest Post, history, Living in the Regency, Napoleonic Wars, real life tales, world history | Tagged , , , , , , | Comments Off on The Mechanical Turk, or the Chess-Playing Machine that Beat Napoleon, a Guest Post from Eliza Shearer

Is Shakespeare’s Play “Macbeth” Cursed?

As theatre was my minor in my undergraduate program, I often studied Shakespeare’s play “Macbeth,” and I have taught it many times. However, I have never performed in or directed the play. Even so, I know something of the “Curse … Continue reading

Posted in acting, drama, Elizabethan drama, paranormal, playwrights, real life tales, research, theatre | Tagged , , , , , | 3 Comments

The “Filles du roi” or Women of the King

Most of Canada during the 1600s was known as “New France.” French men had flocked to the new land with promises of wealth. However, few French women had done the same. This was a great concern to the French government … Continue reading

Posted in history, marriage, marriage customs, real life tales | Tagged , , , , , , | 2 Comments

A Painting Inspired by a Jane Austen Novel? a Guest Post from Eliza Shearer

This post originally appeared on the Austen Authors’ blog on 2 February 2021. About year ago, on a visit to the Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum in Glasgow, I came across a delightful painting that immediately set my imagination flying.  … Continue reading

Posted in art, Austen Authors, British history, Guest Post, Jane Austen | Tagged , , , , , | 1 Comment

The Mont Blanc Tragedy During World War I

Any historical fiction writer worth her salt spends a great deal of time doing research. I was specifically looking for tunnel fires for a plot line I was envisioning. I found a great deal on the Mont Blanc tunnel fire … Continue reading

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

The Battle for Fort McHenry and Its Role in “Captain Stanwick’s Bride”

On Friday, I welcomed another Book Baby. Captain Stanwick’s Bride: A Tragic Characters in Classic Lit Series Novel is a Regency romance that is set against the fiercest battles of the War of 1812 between England and the United States. … Continue reading

Posted in American History, book release, books, British Navy, England, Georgian England, Georgian Era, history, Living in the Regency, military, publishing, reading habits, real life tales, Regency era, research, War of 1812, writing | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

December 24, 1814, the Treaty of Ghent, Ending the Last War Between the United States and the UK

On December 24, 1814, British and American diplomates signed the Treaty of Ghent, bringing about an end to the War of 1812, the only war in which America and the United Kingdom took aim at each other. In the War of … Continue reading

Posted in American History, British history, Georgian England, Georgian Era, Great Britain, history, military, political stance, Regency era, research, War of 1812, weaponry, weather | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on December 24, 1814, the Treaty of Ghent, Ending the Last War Between the United States and the UK

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

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

Posted in Austen Authors, Guest Post, history, real life tales, research, writing | Tagged , , , , , , | Comments Off on Pirates of the Barbary Coast, a Guest Post from Jann Rowland

Jane Austen and the Tudors (plus one Stuart), a Guest Post from Eliza Shearer

This post originally appeared on the Austen Authors’ blog on July 21, 2020. Enjoy!  Aged 15 or 16, Jane Austen wrote a very amusing History of England in the style of a mock textbook. The short text, illustrated by Austen’s sister Cassandra, is … Continue reading

Posted in Austen Authors, British history, England, Guest Post, history, Jane Austen | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Jane Austen and the Tudors (plus one Stuart), a Guest Post from Eliza Shearer