By Katherine Grant

One of the reasons I love reading Regency romance novels is the opportunity to learn something new. As a history nerd, I often find a topic mentioned in passing and dive deep into a research rabbit hole to find out more.

That’s how I have become an “expert” in things as diverse as curricles, the history of buttons, and the presence of lemons in England.

Even more than that, as an author, I love to dig into the larger socioeconomic trends that shaped the Regency world. How many families could afford to hire governesses? Were their gowns really transparent? What was it actually like living on a sailing ship?

For those of you who love to mix historical non-fiction with your historical romance books, read on for research recommendations based on five popular Regency romances!

If You Liked These 5 Regency Romance Novels, Read These Non-Fiction Books

If you liked…

Accidentally Compromising the Duke by Stacy Reid
When Adeline sneaks into a gentleman’s bedroom, she thinks she will be caught in bed with her secret crush. Instead, she is compromised with a duke – who has a reputation for being reclusive, grumpy, and possibly cruel. In their ensuing marriage of convenience, Adeline learns that much of his behavior comes from the deep grief of losing his first wife in childbirth – and fear that he might lose Adeline the same way.

Try…

In the Family Way: Childbearing in the British Aristocracy, 1760-1860 by Judith Schneid Lewis
This fantastic book uses journals and letters from real British aristocratic women to explore what pregnancy was like in Regency England (and how it changed from the Georgian to Victorian periods). You’ll learn everything from the care provided by accoucheurs to how couples dealt with infertility. Since her focus is exclusively on the aristocracy, the book works well for anyone interested in those dukes of the Regency.

If you liked…

The Secret Pearl by Mary Balogh
Mary Balogh, one of the reigning queens of Regency romance, takes on the governess trope in The Secret Pearl. It is one of her darker stories, beginning with a somewhat disturbing encounter between a young woman and a wealthy stranger, who later come face to face again when he hires her as governess for his children. From there, they negotiate the waters of their growing attraction – and his so-called marriage – to find their way to love.

Try…

A Governess in the Age of Jane Austen: The Journals and Letters of Agnes Porter edited by Joanna Martin

This book combines a little of historical context with a treasured primary source. In the intro, Joanna Martin tells us about Agnes Porter and the family she worked for, the Earl of Ilchester (and later his daughter). She also gives us insight into how common governesses were in Regency England and what Agnes expected in terms of lifetime care from her employers. From there, you can explore Agnes’s world yourself with her journal entries and letters. It is a wonderful insight into the world of a noble family and their trusted servant.

If you liked…

The Rakess by Scarlett Peckham

The first installment of The Society of Sirens series, The Rakess tells the story of a Regency heroine who doesn’t behave well and doesn’t care what anyone has to say about it. Seraphina is determined to write her memoirs as part of her crusade for women’s rights, and Adam Anderson is just a handsome distraction. Of course, shenanigans ensue once they start catching feelings for each other, but throughout the novel, Seraphina remains a fiercely independent woman who is confident in choosing to live unlike any other.

Try…
Mad and Bad: Real Heroines of the Regency by Bea Koch

This book makes it easy and fun to learn about some of the stand-out women of Regency England. You’ll get quick biographies of everyone from the women who guarded Almack’s Club to the woman who wrote the first English-language Kosher cookbook. As the blurb says, “In Mad and Bad, we look beyond the popular perception of the Regency into the even more vibrant, diverse, and fascinating historical truth.”

If you liked…

A Duke, The Lady, and a Baby by Vanessa Riley
West Indian heiress Patience Jordan is gaslighted – and imprisoned – for questioning her husband’s suicide. To get her child back, she poses as a nanny for his guardian, a duke. Of course, they are both surprised by each other, and soon they are working together to unravel what exactly happened to Patience’s husband.

Try…

Staying Power: The History of Black People in Britain by Peter Fryer
This is a read that will stay with you. It defines, defies, and tracks definitions of “Blackness” in Britain starting with Roman invasions through to the mid-twentieth century. It also gives important context for how Regency Britain was deeply involved in the slave trade, how its economy was propped up by colonial plantations powered by enslaved people, and how British society was already diverse by the turn of the nineteenth century.

If you liked…

The Duke and the Lady in Red by Lorraine Heath
Rosalind Sharpe catches the duke’s eye – and decides to make the most of it. When he offers her a ridiculous sum of money for a week in bed together, she agrees. Of course, there is more than just symbolic red between them; very quickly, their connection grows deep and meaningful. The only question is what comes next.

Try…

A Perfect Red by Amy Butler Greenfield
I picked this book up on a whim only to discover the history of the color red has a huge impact on the British economy and norms, even up through the Regency period. In this popular history book, you’ll learn how textiles were made before the industrial revolution, how they were dyed, and how the technology for dying clothes became matters of great political and economic consequence to colonial empires. It is a quick, easy, and fascinating read!

Of course, these five non-fiction Regency books are just scratching the surface. For any of the above books, I recommend checking out the authors’ notes or websites to see if they list other research resources!

As for me, reading each of the books listed above (novels and non-fiction) has inspired my own historical romance novels.