Vanessa Riley’s Regency Reflections

Looks What’s Brewing in the Regency

• Visiting Jane Austen’s Home: Celebrating 200 Years in Hampshire, Rachel Dodge
  “Ah! there is nothing like staying at home, for real comfort.” This line from Mrs. Elton in Emma is quite humorous, but the quote itself holds an eternal truth for most of us. There really is no place like one’s own home. For Jane Austen, “home” was in Hampshire, a lush, green county in the […]
• On Research & Rabbit Holes
  I know you understand the issues –I think all of us here tend to be research geeks. Sometimes it’s hard to pull ourselves away from the endless journey of searching out more information, more fascinating details –just a little more … Continue reading →

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Originally posted 2017-07-13 06:20:09.

Looks What’s Brewing in the Regency

• House Hunters, Lake District Style
  I just returned home from the Number One London tour of the Lake District. What a fabulous time! We saw vistas like this: And this: What an inspirational trip! I just so happen to be starting a new book and … Continue reading →
• Ice Cream in July During the Georgian Era
  Gentle Reader, This week marks the July 4th holiday in the U.S., which means family gatherings, outdoor picnics, firework celebrations, and, most of all, ice cream! This delicious treat became more and more common at the turn of the 19th century when the method of transporting and storing great big blocks of ice over long […]

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Originally posted 2017-07-06 06:20:41.

Looks What’s Brewing in the Regency

• Queer in the Regency: a Slice of Once-Hidden LGBT History
  How much do you know about LGBT history during the Regency period? Today we offer you a guest post by writer Graham Stokes (who happens to be Risky Gail Eastwood’s son).  As most of you probably know, June is LGBT … Continue reading →
• Jane Austen and Duck Eggs
  Last week a colleague at work, who lives in one of the prettier areas of rural Virginia, brought a dozen duck eggs to work. She had purchased them from a local farmer. Several of us pounced on these exotic avian gifts, since most of us obtain eggs from the lowly chicken from local grocers. Curiosity […]

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Originally posted 2017-06-29 06:20:57.

Looks What’s Brewing in the Regency

• A Visit to Bath: Tony Grant
  Dear reader, Jane Austen and the Georgian city of Bath are closely entwined throughout her novels and later life. Tony Grant’s contributions regarding Bath have been vitally important to me and this blog. His thoughts, images, and insights have enhanced my posts about this topic. Tony has generously allowed me to link to his popular […]
• Voices from Old London
  This year I’m back in Victorian London, and as it so happens I’ve got a couple of new research books, among them Voices from Dickens’ London by Michael Paterson from 2006 (republished as Inside Dickens’ London). Right in the introduction … Continue reading →

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Originally posted 2017-06-22 06:20:09.

Looks What’s Brewing in the Regency

• Celebrate London!
  George VI spoke those words in a broadcast on September 23, 1940, during the London Blitz, but are they not as true today? I wish I were in London today to stand with Londoners, resolute and undismayed. On Saturday night, … Continue reading →
• Greetings and Gestures in Austen’s Novels, by Rachel Dodge
  Understanding the subtle nuances behind formal introductions and customary greetings during Jane Austen’s lifetime is a lot of fun, and it can provide a unique level of insight into her books. The reason: Austen uses breaches of etiquette and manners as commentaries on her characters. In her book Those Elegant Decorums, Jane Nardin says, “In […]

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Originally posted 2017-06-15 06:21:50.

Looks What’s Brewing in the Regency

• Stewards and Death Taxes
  The Modern Land Steward by John Lawrence, published in 1806. Note: A version of this was originally posted at my website. This post is expanded to include more about Stewards. It will be sufficient fbr our purpose, to define the … Continue reading →

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Originally posted 2017-06-08 06:20:28.

Looks What’s Brewing in the Regency

• A Documented Interracial Marriage in Georgian England
  My ongoing research into free blacks in Georgian London has netted me two more books. I’m going to talk about the first today: Colonel Despard: The Life and Times of an Anglo-Irish Rebel by Clifford D. Conner. All I knew … Continue reading →
• Regency Worlds and a Sale!
  I’m in the middle of teaching an online class, “Introduction to Writing Regency Romance.” Preparing for the class helped me brush up on the basics and the participants seem to be enjoying it. I certainly am. It feels rather nostalgic … Continue reading →

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Originally posted 2017-05-25 06:23:34.

Looks What’s Brewing in the Regency

• Roman Rubber Duckie Goes to Market
  Two weeks ago, I paid another visit to my favorite reconstructed Roman fort—but this time, I was not alone, oh no! I was accompanied by my Roman rubber duckie, who felt straight at home in front of the porta praetoria, … Continue reading →

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Originally posted 2017-05-18 06:20:36.

Looks What’s Brewing in the Regency

• Winners!
  The winners of my Birthday celebration post are: Cindy G Susan B Gaynor SaraLC Megan F I’ve emailed each of you so please respond so I can get your winnings to you! Thanks for celebrating with me.
• Dr Who and an Announcement—Finally!!
  I am excited about two things to share with you! First, I can –FINALLY!! –tell you that the “new, improved” version of The Magnificent Marquess has a release date! May 15. (Cue the fireworks?) I have worked on the revisions … Continue reading →

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Originally posted 2017-05-11 06:20:15.

Looks What’s Brewing in the Regency

• Hello, my Friends – A Contest!
  I have been absent at the Riskies for a bit, but I am here today. ::hand waving:: as to reasons, but the short version is Life. I have had my head entirely in my very overdue current project, Surrender To … Continue reading →

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Originally posted 2017-05-04 06:20:28.