Assembly Rooms = a list of links to blogs and articles of interest to members of the Beau Monde.
Dovecotes! http://www.madamegilflurt.com/2015/01/dovecotes-not-just-quaint-buildings.html
Category: Regency Era
Articles about the Regency era
An Eighteenth Century Conwoman by Rose Lerner
Rose Lerner first published this article on the History Hoydens blog when she was writing the first book in her current series, Sweet Disorder. The second book, True Pretenses, was released this month. Continue reading “An Eighteenth Century Conwoman by Rose Lerner”
Assembly Rooms, January 2015
Assembly Rooms is a collection of links to blogs and articles of interest to lovers of the Regency Era.
Glorious Gothic: http://www.regencyhistory.net/2015/01/strawberry-hill-horace-walpoles-gothic.html
An impressive display of carriages: http://www.regencyhistory.net/2014/10/the-national-trust-carriage-museum-at.html Continue reading “Assembly Rooms, January 2015”
Assembly Rooms, December 2014
Assembly Rooms is a collection of links to blogs and articles of interest to lovers of the Regency Era.
A Regency half dress: http://regencyramble.blogspot.com/2014/11/regency-fashion-november-1814_24.html
Regency Sex Ed by Miranda Neville
Regency romance author Miranda Neville, whose latest book, The Duke of Dark Desires, will be released at the end of December, originally published this essay on the Word Wenches blog. She graciously gave the Beau Monde permission to reprint it here. The added graphic of Pietro Aretino is courtesy Wikipedia Commons.
The Unruly Queen: A Review by Cheryl Bolen
Caroline, Princess of Wales, was not a highly visible presence during the Regency. She had long since separated from her husband, the Prince of Wales by the time he became Regent. In the late summer of 1814, Caroline left England and did not return until her husband had become king. In today’s article, award-winning Regency author, Cheryl Bolen, reviews Flora Fraser’s biography of the Prince Regent’s estranged wife.
Continue reading “The Unruly Queen: A Review by Cheryl Bolen”
A Hot Time in the Old Town Tonight by Regina Scott
Fire is something no one wants to think about today, but it was even more terrifying for those living in the Regency. Today, Regency author, Regina Scott, whose latest release is Ballrooms and Blackmail, tells about the measures that the residents of Regency London took to protect their property. She also tells us about those men who were willing to risk their lives to protect others.
Continue reading “A Hot Time in the Old Town Tonight by Regina Scott”
The Most Popular Man of the Regency by Angelyn Schmid
In today’s article, Angelyn Schmid tells us about Richard Sharp. No, not the fictional Regency soldier, Richard Sharpe. This Richard Sharp, without the "e," was a real man who lived during the Regency. A man who was very popular with many people across all classes. Once you know more about him, despite the fact that he would prefer you did not, you might like him nearly as well as those who knew him in life.
Continue reading “The Most Popular Man of the Regency by Angelyn Schmid”
Fashionable Medicine by Regina Scott
Regina Scott, whose latest print book is The Husband Campaign, shares with us some fads in medicine which held sway during the Regency. As she points out, the more things change, the more they seem to stay the same. Regina’s article makes an interesting follow-up to Angelyn Schmid’s article on Sir Henry Halford, a fashionable Regency doctor, posted last week.
After reading this article, do you think you prefer medical fads from the Regency or those from modern times?
Physician to the Regency by Angelyn Schmid
In today’s article, Regency author, Angelyn Schmid, provides some details about Sir Henry Halford. A physician to the ton during the Regency, Halford was a real-life historical character who made an appearance in one of Georgette Heyer’s most delightful novels, Cotillion.
As you read Angelyn’s article, consider whether or not you would like to have Sir Henry Halford as your doctor.
Continue reading “Physician to the Regency by Angelyn Schmid”
The Ha-Ha Revisited By Angelyn Schmid
Today, Angelyn Schmid shares with us her research into that fiendishly clever barrier which was often found within the grounds of English country estates, the ha-ha. By use of a ha-ha, the view from the manor house would be over an unbroken rolling green sward, but any cattle, sheep, or other animals which were grazing on the other side of the ha-ha would be unable to approach any nearer the house. Angelyn’s article will give you other important details with regard to a ha-ha, should you wish to incorporate one into an upcoming story.
The Duke of Wellington’s Disastrous Marriage By Cheryl Bolen
Arthur Wellesley, the Duke of Wellington, married comparatively late in life, to a woman whom he had loved as a young man. Sadly, his wife was not suited to life as the spouse of a public figure, and the marriage was not a success, for either party. Today, Cheryl Bolen, award-winning Regency romance author, whose most recent book, A Lady By Chance, was released last month as part of the Scandalous Brides boxed set, gives us a picture of the unfortunate marriage of the Duke and Duchess of Wellington.
Continue reading “The Duke of Wellington’s Disastrous Marriage By Cheryl Bolen”
Love and the Regency Rake By Angelyn Schmid
Rakes are popular as heros in Regency romance novels. And who doesn’t love a bad boy who is willing to improve himself for the love of a good woman? But not all real-life rakes were as romantic as their fictional counterparts. In today’s article, Regency romance author, Angelyn Schmid, shares her research into the history of rakes, and the life of one in particular. A man who would never qualify as a romantic hero, except perhaps in a tragedy.
Continue reading “Love and the Regency Rake By Angelyn Schmid”
Fordyce’s Sermons and Jane Austen’s Joke By Jane Lark
If you have read Pride and Prejudice, even if you recognized the reference to Fordyce’s Sermons, you may not get the subtle joke Jane Austen intended. It would have been understood by most readers of her era, particularly the ladies, but the majority of modern readers will miss it all together. Today, Regency romance author, Jane Lark, whose most recent book is The Passionate Love of a Rake, will explain Jane Austen’s joke with regard to Mr. Fordyce’s book of sermons so that we can all enjoy the fun.
Continue reading “Fordyce’s Sermons and Jane Austen’s Joke By Jane Lark”
Lord Nelson’s Pitiable Wife by Cheryl Bolen
In today’s article, award-winning Regency romance author, Cheryl Bolen, whose newest book, Love in the Library, will be released this month, tells us about a woman nearly forgotten by history, the wife of the great naval hero, Admiral Lord Nelson. Even those who have studied the Regency and its denizens for years may have overlooked this unhappy woman who was Nelson’s legal wife. Though Nelson was killed at the Battle of Trafalgar before the Regency began, Lady Nelson survived not only her husband and his infamous mistress, but the Prince Regent as well.
Continue reading “Lord Nelson’s Pitiable Wife by Cheryl Bolen”
Sand: A Regency Cleaning Agent?
A cross-post from The Regency Redingote:
Today, most people would be much more likely to clean sand up than they would be to clean with it. But during the Regency, as it had been for centuries before, sand was a commonly-used household cleaning agent. And the man who supplied the sand used for cleaning to most households across Britain would, by the time the Regency ended, be passing into the realm of myth and folk tale, having acquired special powers, certainly in the eyes of most young children and their parents. Like so many other things discussed here, the ways in which sand was used for cleaning were beginning to change during the Regency, though they would not die out completely until the twentieth century.
The shifting, and sifting, sands of the Regency …
The Prince and His Lady A Review By Cheryl Bolen
The Duke of Kent was one of the gaggle of royal brothers of the Prince Regent. Like most of the royal princes, he did not mary until late in life, under multiple pressures. However, he had set up a mistress of whom he was very fond when he was a young man. Before the publication of the book which Cheryl Bolen, award-winning Regency romance author, reviews for us today, very little was known about that lady, or her relationship with the royal prince. In this review, Cheryl gives us a taste of the more than quarter century shared by The Prince and His Lady.
Continue reading “The Prince and His Lady A Review By Cheryl Bolen”
The Real Regency Reader: Jane Austen by Angelyn Schmid
In honor of Jane Austen’s two hundred and thirty-eighth birthday, today we have an article by Angelyn Schmid about the importance of reading, not only in the Regency, but specifically in the novels of Jane Austen. Though she did not have many years of formal education, Jane Austen was an avid reader, as were some of the characters in her books. Angelyn also explains what it meant to be literate during the Regency.
Happy Birthday, Jane!
Continue reading “The Real Regency Reader: Jane Austen by Angelyn Schmid”
A Regency Handbook
A cross-post from The Regency Redingote:
A number of you may be familiar with the many delightful Regencies by best-selling author Emily Hendrickson. However, you may not be aware that she has also written an engaging and enlightening reference on Regency social and cultural history, entitled A Regency Handbook. Whether you are new to that special decade when the Prince of Wales ruled as Regent of England, or if you have been reading Regencies for years, you will find a vast array of new and interesting historical nuggets in this handbook for Regency devotees.
A brief overview of A Regency Handbook …
Dogs as Pets in the Regency By Ann Lethbridge
My last doggy post for a while, I promise.
OK here we go. Dogs as Pets
It is my sense that despite the last post which indicated some working dogs were not treated well, given the number of times dogs show up in family portrait, the Englishman and woman with leisure, have always loved their dogs.
One of the most famous breeds are King Charles Spaniels, which were favorites of that monarch and pictured here with his children.
By the Regency these dogs had much shorter muzzles and a more domed head than is pictured here, so much more like the King Charles we know today. I did like this Royal picture though.
Pugs
The truth of how the Pug came into existence is shrouded in mystery, but he has been true to his breed down through the ages since before 400 B.C. Authorities agree that he is of Oriental origin with some basic similarities to the Pekingese. China is the earliest known source for the breed, where he was the pet of the Buddhist monasteries in Tibet. The breed next appeared in Japan and then in Europe, where it became the favorite for various royal courts.
The Pug became the official dog of the House of Orange after one of the breed saved the life of William, Prince of Orange, by giving alarm at the approach of the Spaniards at Hermingny in 1572. What a great story!!!
This picture is from 1808: Although today’s Pug is distinguished by an almost flat face, the Pug of 1800 had a distinct muzzle, and in this case cropped ears.
Italian Greyhounds
This smallest member of the Greyhound family is of very ancient lineage, for its history dates back at least two thousand years. Although its name suggests that the breed originated in Italy, cynologists believe this charming little dog originated in Egypt. Eventually, the breed was taken by Roman soldiers from Egypt to Mediterranean areas, where they soon became the favorite companions of Greek and Roman ladies. By the Middle Ages, the breed had spread throughout southern Europe when they became known as Italian Greyhounds.
It has never been used for work of any kind, it is a natural sight hound. Throughout the centuries Italian Greyhounds have been favored as pets by royalty: Catherine the Great of Russia, Mary Queen of Scots, James I and Charles I of England, Frederick the Great of Prussia and Queen Victoria were a few royal owners of the breed.
And of course this picture is the one I just had to pick, because in the picture of the greyhound is a Maltese. It is hard to see the little dog, he looks more like a pillow, but he is there. And so my little dog’s breed was also around in the Regency. One of these days, one of his ancestors is going to star in one of my novels. Until Next time. Happy Rambles.
© 2007 – 2013 Ann Lethbridge
Originally posted at Regency Ramble
Posted at The Beau Monde by permission of the author.