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Would you like to get inside the head of a Regency romance hero? Would you like to better understand his upbringing, education and what society would expect from him as a gentleman? In today’s article, award-winning Regency romance author, Cheryl Bolen, tells us about an instruction manual, written in the form of letters from a peer to his son, which explains what a young gentleman about town needs to know to succeed in life.
Continue reading “How to Learn What Regency Gentlemen Knew By Cheryl Bolen”
In today’s article, Ann Lethbridge, author of Falling for the Highland Rogue, completes her two-part series on Regency prisons, in particular, the two other debtors prisons located in London. After reading today’s article, you may consider imprisonment in the Fleet prison rather a treat when compared to these other prisons.
Continue reading “Regency Debt and Prisons By Ann Lethbridge”
Today, Ann Lethbridge, Regency romance author, whose most recent book is Falling for the Highland Rogue, begins a two-part series on Regency prisons. In this article, Ann focuses on the famous, or perhaps, the infamous Fleet prison in London. The majority of prisoners held in the Fleet during the Regency were those who could not pay their debts. This may be difficult for many of us living in the twenty-first century to understand, since people are no longer imprisoned for debt in modern times. But it was a common practice during our favorite period, and Ann’s article will help us all better understand life in the Fleet during the Regency.
What is your bedtime routine? How does the bedtime routine of a Regency lady compare with yours? Regency romance author, Regina Scott, whose latest print book is The Wife Campaign, gives us a glimpse into the preparations a Regency lady must make before she could retire for the night. Would you be willing to go throught that, every night?
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”
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”
Regency romance author, Ann Lethbridge, whose most recent book, Falling for the Highland Rogue, won the Romantic Times Knight in Shining Silver (KISS) Award, today tells us about Sir John Soane, a prominent Regency architect. She shares important information about Soane’s working style and provides images of some of his more significant buildings.
Might Sir John Soane or his buildings figure in one of your next novels?
Continue reading “Regency Architecture: Sir John Soane By Ann Lethbridge”
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”
Do you have plans for a New Year celebration this year? Would you like to try some new, or in truth, old recipes for liquid libation? Today, Susanna Ives, whose new book, Wicked Little Secrets, was released this month, shares her research on some of the more popular drinks of the Regency. Which one do you think you would enjoy the most?
Happy New Year!
Christmas carols and the practice of caroling during the Regency bear little similarity to the traditions with which we are so familiar today. Regency author, Regina Scott, whose new book, The Wife Campaign, was released this month, shares some insights into the caroling practices which were typical during the Regency, as well some history of carols which are still popular in the twenty-first century.
Given the choice, would you prefer Regency or modern-day caroling practices?
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 …
Today’s article is a verbal time capsule, courtesy of Cheryl Bolen, award-winning Regency romance author and Beau Monde member. This article was first published in 1999 and in it, Cheryl reflects on the differences between the romance novels published at the end of the last century and those of the 1980s. She also provides some statistics regarding those who were actually reading romance novels at that time. Now, more than a decade after this article was first published, do you think romance novels are even more sophisticated, or have they taken a different path? Has their readership broadened or contracted over the intervening years?
Continue reading “The Sophistication of the Romance Novel by Cheryl Bolen”
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.
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.
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.
Continue reading “Hornblower’s Navy: A Review by Cheryl Bolen”
This month’s article in the Working on the Web section of the Beau Monde forum explains the advantages of offering a blogroll at your blog. Though you may hesitate to include links to other blogs at yours, once you read this article you will understand how a blogroll can benefit both you and your readers. If you already have a blog or are thinking of starting one, this article will provide you with important information on why you will want to include a blogroll.
Would you like to have access to the online edition of the Oxford English Dictionary? The OED is a valuable tool for any writer of historical fiction because it allows them to verify whether a word in their manuscript was actually in use during the time in which their story is set. The print version has been discontinued and now all additions and updates go only into the online version. Though an annual subscription to the online OED can be beyond the budget of many writers, there are options for writers to get access. Next month’s Working on the Web article will explain how that can be accomplished.
If you are not yet a Beau Monde member, and would like to join us, please visit our Membership page for details.
Do you have a home office where you do most of your writing? Do you sometimes wonder how other authors set up their home offices? Then, today, you are in luck. Cheryl Bolen, award-winning Regency romance author, tells us how she has set up her home office. Those of you who are not committed technophiles will find some very clever, but functional, low-tech solutions in Cheryl’s article.
Continue reading “Organizing My Home Office by Cheryl Bolen”
Today, Susanna Ives, author of Rakes and Radishes, shares the research she did on the British mail delivery system while writing that book. She includes excerpts from several historical works on the subject, as well as some from books published during the period known as the "long Regency." Do you need to know the price of postage for a letter delivered within the British Isles? Or, is you fictional missive to be sent abroad for delivery in a foreign land? Susanna provides postage tables in her article for convenient reference. In her article, you will also find details on which coaches served which cities and the business hours of the London Post Office, among other details of the British postal system.
Do you ever spend time with your WIP in a restaurant, or perhaps a coffee shop? Today, Susanna Ives, author of Rakes and Radishes, contemplates that very activity. She not only shares what the experience means to her, but also a photo of a lovely and restful French painting in which a young Victorian lady is reading in a cafe while awaiting the arrival of her meal.