Vanessa Riley’s Regency Reflections

Looks What’s Brewing in the Regency

• PERSUASION:  A novel of change, by Tony Grant
  Inquiring readers: One reason I love Tony Grant’s submissions is the wonderful original images that he takes of the sites he discusses – in this instance, Bath and Persuasion, Jane Austen’s final and arguably her best novel. Enjoy the article, as well as Tony’s photographic images. I think Persuasion is Jane Austen’s most mature novel. […]
• Deportment, Courtesy and All That
  Manners maketh man. William of Wykeham, Motto of Winchester College and New College, Oxford By odd coincidence, both my actor son Graham and Elena’s daughter Gaile are in rehearsals for theater productions of Jane Austen works going up in March. … Continue reading →

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Originally posted 2018-02-15 06:20:30.

Looks What’s Brewing in the Regency

• Shipwreck!
  I haven’t begun a book with a good shipwreck since my 2008 Harlequin Historical, The Vanishing Viscountess, but, here, ten years later, my next two books begin that very way. They even begin with a shipwreck in about the same … Continue reading →

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Originally posted 2018-02-08 06:20:55.

Looks What’s Brewing in the Regency

• My Role Models: Mom and Jane Austen
  Inquiring readers: While I meant to write a post about muslin caps, my thoughts went in quite a different direction. My lovely mom just celebrated her 93rd birthday and she and Jane Austen have been much on my mind lately. Ladies during Jane Austen’s time were as thrifty and resourceful as my great aunts and […]

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Originally posted 2018-02-01 06:20:19.

Looks What’s Brewing in the Regency

• Regency-inspired decorating
  Lately, I’ve been busy reworking some furniture to suit the new life I’m creating for myself. Although I’m more sure about my taste than I used to be, I’m still drawn to design that evokes something of a Regency or … Continue reading →

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Originally posted 2018-01-25 06:20:23.

Looks What’s Brewing in the Regency

• Netley Abbey and the Gothic by Tony Grant
  Inquiring readers, Tony Grant, a blogger and contributor to this blog for a decade, has submitted this interesting post about Netley Abbey. He ties history, literature, poetry, and painting to Jane Austen’s fascination with the gothic novel, which led to her writing Northanger Abbey in her wonderfully satiric vein. Enjoy! My Memories of Netley Abbey […]
• Artistic License and 12th Night Traditions
  The English count the 12 days of Christmas as starting on Christmas Day itself, so Christmastide, or the Twelve Days of Christmas culminate tonight with Twelfth Night, ushering in the Christian season of Epiphany. Which customs did people follow to … Continue reading →

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Originally posted 2018-01-11 06:20:05.

Looks What’s Brewing in the Regency

• Auld Lang Syne
  I’m a day late but thought I’d celebrate the new year by sharing the origins of the song we sing at midnight on January 1. The lyrics are attributed to Robert Burns in 1788, but the Scottish poet said he … Continue reading →

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Originally posted 2018-01-04 06:20:04.

Looks What’s Brewing in the Regency

• Guinea Pigs in Georgian England
  As most of you know, I love writing pets into my books. I’ve mostly stuck to dogs, but I think my current book is going to need a cavy. I know you’ve likely all seen the Elizabethan painting of the … Continue reading →

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Originally posted 2017-12-28 06:20:19.

Looks What’s Brewing in the Regency

• 5th Annual Unusual Holiday Music Post
  I took a look and realized that this will be the fifth year I’m posting about holiday music. So be it! I love singing carols and attending holiday concerts. However, some holiday music (more what’s played in stores rather than … Continue reading →
• Jane Austen Christmas by Rachel Dodge
  Christmas with Jane Austen Many Austen fans enjoy thinking about how Jane and her family celebrated Christmas. They wonder, did she give gifts, “deck” the halls, or have a Christmas tree? As most Austen fans know, many of the Christmas traditions we might picture actually became popular during the Victorian Era. However, there are plenty […]

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Originally posted 2017-12-21 06:21:06.