regency research

by

Elizabeth: It’s “Research”

Honeysuckle Cottage

As a fan of Regency historicals and English mysteries, the books I read tend to be set in and around the English countryside.  Having been born and raised in suburban California, with cookie-cutter houses set side by side in uniform rows, it can be a little difficult for me to visualize some of those settings, especially for stories that rely on the layout of a house or village as a plot point.

Having spent a fair amount of  time in London and slightly less time around Oxford and the Cotswolds, I can picture some things, but houses and estates and the like aren’t always clear to me, based on the author’s descriptions.

Fortunately, the internet has come to my rescue via the UK’s Country Life magazine.  I’ve purchased electronic copies of the magazine from Amazon from time to time–always taken in by a great headline and cover photo, only to find myself wading through virtual page after page of real estate listings for properties far outside my purchasing power or interest, before getting to the actual articles I bought the magazine for. Continue reading →

by

Justine: Regency Research Books

The beautiful Regency-era music room at Kenwood House outside London. Photo (c) 2015 J. Covington

The beautiful Regency-era music room at Kenwood House outside London. Photo (c) 2015 J. Covington

I just returned from ten fabulous days with Jilly in England where I saw all manner of museums, country houses, old ships, and gorgeous churches, big and small. The only downside is the horrible jet lag I’m suffering with today. Combine that with a deadline to return revised manuscripts to two contests I finaled in and a Kindergarten “promotion” ceremony on Wednesday for my little one means I’m recycling a previous post.

I plan to post soon about the dozen or so books I picked up while I was in England, but for now, here’s a recap of some of the ones I’ve read over the last year and enjoyed.

“What Jane Austen Ate and Charles Dickens Knew: From Fox Hunting to Whist — the Facts of Daily Life in Nineteenth Century England” by Daniel Pool
This book covers the gamut. Card games, how to address your peers, the Church of England, MPs, you name it. Everything is covered at a high enough level that you learn about it, but you won’t necessarily become an expert. The most helpful insight so far: learning how many players it takes for a game of loo. Continue reading →

by

Justine: Research Books About Regency

regency, regency researchI may have taken a hiatus from writing, but I haven’t taken one from learning about the period in which I write. I’m reading four books right now related to the Regency, each helpful in their own way.

“What Jane Austen Ate and Charles Dickens Knew: From Fox Hunting to Whist — the Facts of Daily Life in Nineteenth Century England” by Daniel Pool
This book covers the gamut. Card games, how to address your peers, the Church of England, MPs, you name it. Everything is covered at a high enough level that you learn about it, but you won’t necessarily become an expert. The most helpful insight so far: learning how many players it takes for a game of loo. Continue reading →