Women of the ages past may not have had the wealth of opportunities that women today do, but those who strived for more found a way to make themselves known. Celebrating females of the Regency who stepped beyond the typical roles of the day, today’s post is about famed French...
When it comes to Regency fashion it is difficult to know where to start. Arbitrarily starting on the outside, let’s talk about the garments worn by the ladies of the day for warmth. With the fashion of the time favoring lightweight fabrics with almost no underclothing, women were literally freezing...
Every country has a history of bizarre laws enacted at one time or another. Some were perhaps initiated for a semi-logical reason at the time, at least according to someone’s point of view. Most, however, were stupid from the get-go! And it is surprising how many of these illogical and/or outdated...
Ale has been brewed in England since Roman times if not earlier, and for more than a millennia after every house would have brewed its own ale as a matter of course. Inns brewed their own distinctive beverage, a signature drink as it were! Queen’s College, Oxford brewed its own ale...
Last week I gave a short history for three of the seven listed Wonders of the Ancient World. You can read that post here: Wonders of the Ancient World, part 1. Time to highlight the remaining four. 4. Temple of Artemis at Ephesus It appears that the Temple to honor the Ephesian goddess...
Ah, the basic ingredients we take for granted! Flour for cakes and breads that did not depend on adding yeast, today on every grocery store shelf, was once unheard of. Here’s the scoop– Prior to 1845 the only raising agent used in bread was yeast, which spoiled rapidly. This meant that...
Now, I know this is unrelated to Georgian or Regency England, but I found it fascinating so have decided to devote this week and next Monday to the topic. What do you consider the Seven Wonders of the Ancient world? There are varied lists, although most commonly mentioned are the seven listed...
In architecture, a folly is a building constructed primarily for decoration, but either suggesting by its appearance some other purpose, or merely so extravagant that it transcends the normal range of garden ornaments or other class of building to which it belongs. Although most of the buildings we now call follies are a part of English garden and...
The concept of dining away from home is now so engrained and advanced that we drive up to tiny windows for our food. For many people, a night of “fine dining” is hitting the Cracker Barrel or Applebees! Luxury dining to the average person is a rare occurrence saved for...
Pick up a Regency Era novel by any author and there is a high probability that before reaching the end Almack’s Assembly in London will be mentioned at least once. While this may appear to be gratuitous name tossing, the truth is that in the early decades of 1800 Almack’s was...
“O true Apothecary! Thy drugs are quick. Thus with a kiss I die.” Romeo in Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet Apothecaries have existed in every culture through the ages. Thousands of years of herbal knowledge and experimentation aided the healers within the society. In most instances those who provided medicinal expertise were honored...
Most of my novels are set during the first two decades of the 1800s. That era is roughly referred to as the “Regency” due to the nine-year rule of the Prince of Wales as Regent while his father King George III was incapacitated from mental illness. Technically the Regency Era began...
This Monday’s history essay is also a review of a truly astounding movie that I sincerely cannot recommend high enough. I will interweave the two as I proceed in hopes that I can not only educate, as you all know I love to do; but also encourage each one of you...
Major improvements in printing processes in the 1790s led to a boom of printed material in England. London produced several daily newspapers, and over a dozen monthly magazines. Provincial newspapers were plentiful throughout England as well, adding to the London newspapers that circulated to the farthest reaches of the country....
Are you shocked? This fascinating article came through the Beau Monde chapter of the RWA a couple of years ago. I shared it then, but figured it is interesting enough to dust off and repost. The long, very detailed article in the April 2010 edition of Stanford Magazine (as in Stanford University,...
