TBM Forum:   Working on the Web Round-Up

In the Working on the Web section of the Beau Monde forum this month an article was posted which offers historical authors suggestions on how they might be able to get access to The Oxford English Dictionary, a crucial tool for writers of historical fiction. Using the OED, an author can quickly determine if any word or compound word they are using in their manuscript is accurate to the period in which their story is set. No one who writes historical fiction will want to be without this valuable resource and this month’s article will provide options on how an author might be able to get access to The Oxford English Dictionary.

The purpose, value and correct use of blog tags will be the subject of next month’s Working on the Web article. If you are a blogger, or planning to become one, you will want to learn how you can use blog tags to your advantage.

If you are not yet a Beau Monde member, and would like to join us, please visit our Membership page for details.

The Most Haunted House in London by Angelyn Schmid

October. The month for scary things. A haunted house fits right in. Today, Angelyn Schmid tells us about some frightening and unexplained things which occurred in the most haunted house in London, which was situated in prestigious Berkeley Square. A word of advice, don’t read this story alone, or in the dark!

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The Wearing of Costume

A cross-post from The Regency Redingote:

Yet again, I have come across another unique and fascinating book while browsing at my local library. A book which I think many authors of Regency novels will find quite informative. This book is about exactly what the title says it is, how to wear the costumes of days gone by. The author’s stated purpose in writing the book was to provide information for actors in movies and plays, and for readers of historical novels, to help them imagine how the characters in the book they are reading would move, based on the constraints of the clothing of the time period in which the story is set. It would seem to me that this book would also be of use to writers of historical novels, as well as to those who enjoy re-enacting historical events.

Some of the more intriguing aspects of the wearing of clothing in England in times past …

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Good Ton Is BACK!

Many of you may remember the Good Ton web site, though some of you may have known it as The Nonesuch. This site was a rich resource offering details on hundreds of traditional Regencies, including blurbs and reviews. It also offered an extensive Regency lexicon in both dictionary and thesaurus formats, as well as a number of links for further information on the Regency. Sadly, just over a year ago, the Good Ton winked out and disappeared from the web. There were many who were very sorry to see it go.

Recently, I learned that a gentleman who highly values the extensive resources which were available at the Good Ton web site has restored it to the Internet and it is once again available to all who found it so useful. In addition to maintaining the site, he is also planning to continue to add new traditional Regency titles to the listings. This is very good news for all of us who love traditional Regencies. If you have any suggestions for Chris, the new proprietor of the Good Ton web site, you can find his email address at the bottom of the home page.

For those of you who many not be familiar with the many facets of the Good Ton web site, a couple of years ago, I posted a review of it at my blog. I am re-posting it here for your edification.

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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.

Engraving of a portrait of the children of Charles I with a pair of Charles I spaniels.













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.

Painting of a pug in a landscape.













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.

Engraving of an Italian greyhound next to a shaggy white dog.

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.

Dogs in the Regency   By Ann Lethbridge

Do dogs have table manners? Well it might be the sort of requirement one would ask of a dog in the Regency. Mine certainly doesn’t. Which is what generated me thinking about posting on dogs again. My sweetie-pie demonstrated his lack of table manners on Thanksgiving at my in laws. After we left the table and were sitting outside on the patio, my brother-in-law leaped from his seat, pointed in through the window. "Is that your dog?"

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Hornblower’s Navy:   A Review by Cheryl Bolen

For those Regency authors who are thinking of including an officer or a sailor of the Royal Navy in an upcoming novel, you may find this brief review of the book, Hornblower’s Navy, of great interest. In today’ article, award-winning Regency romance author, Cheryl Bolen, gives us her take on this book which provides details on the world of the Royal Navy at the dawn of the Regency.

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Monk Lewis: "thy skull discern a deeper hell"   by Angelyn Schmid

"Monk" was not his real name, it was a nickname he acquired in the last years of the eighteenth century, after the success of his one and only book. But it was quite a book. In today’s article, Angelyn Schmid gives us an overview of the author’s life and a taste of the thoroughly terrifying novel which quite literally made this young man’s name.

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