Help for Disadvantaged Women in the Regency Era
Jane Austen wrote in a letter to her niece, Fanny Knight, “Single women have a dreadful propensity for being poor…”
Regency Era Crafts
Aristocratic women in the Regency period (c. 1811–1820) were expected to cultivate ‘accomplishments’: skills that demonstrated refinement, gentility, and suitability for marriage. These activities were not merely hobbies; they signalled education, taste, and social status. Many were decorative rather than practical, designed to fill long hours at home and to showcase a woman’s grace and patience.
Mrs. Meeswax’s Plum Tart
Mrs. Meeswax did not leave very clear notes for her plum tart recipe (I found them among her general housekeeping notes with quick shorthand scribbles- after all, she had to make sure she didn’t step on Cook’s toes by drawing further attention to this popular recipe), however I can see that she loved to experiment with spices. This recipe for her plum tart was close enough to a modern version from Red Currant Bakery that I used as a modern base, but there are different quantities and other ingredients in Mrs. Meeswax’s version. She also didn’t make any syrup for her tart.
Regency Pooches
Queen Charlotte arrived in London with two Pomeranians in tow, Phoebe and Mercury, in 1761 at age 17. She would accumulate more dogs and also gift them to people close to her.
7 Unexpected Mills & Boon Historical Titles
I have a collection of vintage Mills and Boon novels. The oldest book in my collection is ‘With this Ring’ by Fanny Heaslip Lea, published in 1926. Next year, I will write about the romance novel itself to mark its 100th anniversary.
More than meets the eye
Why is writing Romance so much harder than people think? It's a common misconception that romance is easy because it's formulaic. As an author of romances with a touch of mystery and adventure, I'm here to tell you that's simply not true! I've spoken with several Regency Romance authors (and Romance authors in general), and they've agreed - it's neither simple nor easy to write a compelling romance novel. Let's delve into the nuances of crafting love stories.
Changes in the last 100 years in Regency Romance Writing
Regency romance has undergone a remarkable transformation over the past century, evolving from tightly structured, mannered tales inspired by Georgette Heyer into a vibrant, diverse, and emotionally expansive genre. While the ballroom remains, the stories unfolding within it have shifted dramatically.
Changes in the Last 100 years of General Romance Writing
Historical romance has transformed dramatically over the past century, shifting from male‑dominated, adventure‑driven narratives to stories that foreground women’s agency, diverse voices, and historically grounded emotional realism. The genre’s evolution mirrors broader cultural changes in gender roles, publishing trends, and readers’ expectations.
3 great things about writing Regency Romance
While it is not easy, there are also joys in writing romance, in this case in a historical context.
How Army Surgeons Treated Their Wounded in 1817
In The Earl's Revelation, we briefly meet an army surgeon. We know more or less what they did, but goodness, how did they manage to do it so far away from proper equipment and assistance?
Contrivances, Crutches, and Care”: How Physical Disabilities were Supported in 1817
In The Earl's Revelation, La Duchesse uses a hearing trumpet. She would have used something like the selection below.
The Legal Status of Slavery in France — A Story of Contradictions
In The Earl’s Revelation, there is mention of taking slaves to Isle Bourbon (present day Réunion). According to Réunion - Wikipedia, ‘the slave trade openly operated in the colony after French rule was restored, and despite international condemnation, Bourbon Island imported 2,000 slaves every month during the 1820s,’ which obviously also included the lead up to those years. It is conceivable that some slaves originated outside of Africa or the Caribbean.