Regency Research

I've now written four books set in Regency England: THE DUKE'S DESIRE, KISS ME QUICK, KISS ME AGAIN and the upcoming A LOVER'S KISS. Once again, a different time period means more books for me!

But first, one I didn't buy, because even used, it was out of my price range (about $300): THE REGENCY COMPANION, by Sharon Laudermilk and Teresa L. Hamlin. This is a great book, and when I found out how much it would cost to buy it for myself, I was never more tempted to "lose" a library book. But I dutifully returned it. So if you ever stumble upon this book for less than a $100 and you want to write a Regency -- buy it!

Other Regency books I own:

WHAT JANE AUSTEN ATE AND CHARLES DICKENS KNEW: From Fox Hunting to Whist -- the Facts of Daily Live in 19th-Century England by Daniel Pool

THE WRITER'S GUIDE TO EVERYDAY LIFE IN REGENCY AND VICTORIAN ENGLAND From 1811-1901 by Kristine Hughes

A HISTORY OF EVERYDAY THINGS IN ENGLAND, Volume III, 1733-1851 by Marjorie and C.H.B. Quennell

THE PURSUIT OF PLEASURE: Gender, Space and Architecture in Regency London by Jane Rendell

OUR TEMPESTUOUS DAY: A History of Regency England by Carolly Erickson

THE AGE OF ELEGANCE 1812-1822 by Arthur Bryant

LEISURE AND PLEASURE IN THE 19TH CENTURY by Stella Margetson

WATERLOO: THE HUNDRED DAYS by David Chandler

THE HORIZON BOOK OF THE AGE OF NAPOLEON, Editor in charge Marshall B. Davidson

ENGLAND IN 1815: HALEVY'S HISTORY OF THE ENGLISH PEOPLE IN THE 19TH CENTURY, Volume I
by Elie Halevy

THE THURTELL-HUNT MURDER CASE: Dark Mirror to Regency England by Albert Borowitz

JANE AUSTEN'S TOWN AND COUNTRY STYLE by Susan Watkins

LIFE IN THE ENGLISH COUNTRY HOUSE by Mark Girouard

ETIQUETTE: Rules and Usages of the Best Society, originally published in 1886 by People's Publishing Company Melbourne, by an unnamed author (why do I think that means it was probably a woman?); abridged edition published in 1995 by the Promotional Reprint Company

Because the hero of A LOVER'S KISS is a barrister, I also have a few books about the British legal system:

THE BAR AND THE OLD BAILEY 1750 - 1850 by Allyson N. May

LEGAL LONDON: A Pictorial History by Mark Herber

AN INTRODUCTION TO ENGLISH LEGAL HISTORY by J.H. Baker

A CONCISE HISTORY OF THE COMMON LAW by Theodore F.T. Plucknett

I also own THE HISTORY OF UNDERCLOTHES by C. Willett and Phillis Cunnington
Fascinating fact: "at first the wearing of drawers by women was considered immodest. No doubt everyone was aware that it was a male garment; obviously only women of easy virtue would so demean themselves." It wasn't until Princess Charlotte adopted them they they came into common usage. What did women wear prior to drawers, pantaloons or pantelettes? Nothing, apparently, except for the chemise and petticoats -- "frequently proved by the caricaturist of the time, who did not hesitate to indicate the bare fact of its absence."

Just goes to show, the more things change, the more they stay the same....