Moniker/Name: Dot Source of Question: Reg Rom Book Your Question: In Frankenstein, some of the men are addressed by the honorific of M. (eg. M. Waldman), and I was wondering what this was short for…

If you have read a lot of Regency romance, its highly probable you have run into a character mentioning the Corn Laws.  But what were they?   In 1815, following the Napoleonic Wars, Parliament…

This is the thirty-first post in our Men and Manners, Maxims for life by a Gentleman (Men and Manners ; Or, Concentrated Wisdom. 4th Ed. Much Enlarged, 1809) series.  For the first thirty posts: Re…

Regency Reader Question I have always understood that dukes are very rare, and in the English peerage, most have a connection or actual blood relationship to the Royal Family. In romantic fiction h…

Morning Post – Tuesday 01 July 1806 For my new historical nonfiction book, Regency Masquerades in Regency Britain, I poured over hundreds of advertisements like this, as well as hundreds of e…

This Palladian mansion tucked alongside a woodland, features rococo interiors, a Chinese sitting room, and fine artwork in East Lothian, Scotland.  On the outskirts of Edinburgh, it was once famous…

Moniker/Name: Elizabeth Source of Question: Just curious Your Question: Hello Anne, I’m familiar with the term ‘Pin Money’ both literally and figuratively, but I don’t quite understand exactly how …

Moniker/Name: Terry Sue Source of Question: Research Your Question: I just wondered if the advertisement for Zimmermanic Powder which gives the celebrity reference of a “Miss Booth” rel…

One of the characters you will learn about in my new historical non-fiction book Masquerade Balls in Regency Britain is Charles Wright.  Primarily a wine purveyor, he also dabbled in the world of i…

YouTube video by Dr. Esme Louise James

Did Jane Austen, the Prince Regent, Fanny Burney or the Duke of Wellington talk of Santa Claus bringing presents at Christmas? No, they didn’t. But their December conversations may have made menti...

December 1-25, 2024It's our BIGGEST GIVEAWAY OF THE YEAR and the chance for you to win fabulous prizes from your favorite authors! This year we have 34 participating authors giving away books, which m...

Apart from spending time in bookshops I do love an old fashioned stationery shop and  have fond memories of such a bookshop/stationers in my home town, Nottingham, whilst the shop is long gone, the memories remain. This memory made me decide it was time to take a look at 18th century stationery shops, some of which I imagine were not dissimilar to the one in Nottingham. Let’s begin with a lengthy advertisement in the Hampshire Chronicle, 6 December 1784 for Blagden’s shop on the High Street, Winchester. Mr Blagden helpfully for us provided plenty of prices for stationery items sold in his shop, but not only did he sell stationery, but it was also a circulating library, a music shop and a pharmacy and perfumiers, there’s nothing like diversifying is there?