In Pride and Prejudice, one of Darcy’s and the Bingley sisters’ big concerns with the Bennet family is the terribly middle-class status of Mrs Bennet’s family. Her brother is a merchant, living in Cheapside. The horror. Her father was a country attorney, and her sister married his clerk. These are deemed to be most inappropriate connections, … Continue reading Always Austen – Lawyers, Barristers, and Attorneys, Oh My!
Category: Historical Note
Chelsea Buns
One of the things I love about researching for my stories is finding those little details, those glimpses into everyday life, that don't always make it into the big history books. Things like... what to have for breakfast! I knew that Chelsea buns had a long and delicious history in London, and so I decided … Continue reading Chelsea Buns
Literature and Discovery – L’Anse aux Meadows
We were recently in Newfoundland on holiday, and we decided to make the grand trek up the Great Northern Peninsula to L’Anse aux Meadows. Here, at the end of the known world (well, it felt like it), where the road ends and the ocean begins, is a remarkable site: the only known Viking settlement in … Continue reading Literature and Discovery – L’Anse aux Meadows
Shakespeare and Austen
Today is my day to post at Austen Authors. I have a new novel in the works, a mash-up of Pride and Prejudice and Much Ado About Nothing, and it seemed natural to take a look at what Austen herself thought of the Bard.You can read the original post here: https://www.austenauthors.net/shakespeare-and-austen/ And I'll post the … Continue reading Shakespeare and Austen
Butter Tarts: A Sweet Bite of Canadian History
Last week was Canada Day, and as a foodie with a sweet tooth, I celebrated by making butter tarts. But I’m also a history geek, so a recipe wasn’t enough for me. I needed to know where these little morsels of sugary delight came from. And so, down the rabbit hole went I, and this … Continue reading Butter Tarts: A Sweet Bite of Canadian History
Sally Lunn Buns
It was my week to post at Austen Authors, and I decided to explore some of the culinary delights of Regency Bath. Check out my post there to see what I thought about Sally Lunn Buns.https://www.austenauthors.net/sally-lunn-buns-a-bath-treat/
Sing to Us: E. Pauline Johnson ~ Tekahionwake
I have just finished the first round of edits on a contemporary novel based on Jane Austen’s wonderful Persuasion. Despite the story taking place in the present (well, post-COVID, so perhaps that makes it fantasy), I still found myself diving down the rabbit hole of historical research. One such dive involved poetry. My main character, … Continue reading Sing to Us: E. Pauline Johnson ~ Tekahionwake
Austen Authors – Beethoven’s Eroica
Please check out my post at Austen Authors, where I talk a bit about Beethoven, Napoleon, and one of the coolest stories of the early 1800s. https://www.austenauthors.net/historical-tidbits-a-heroic-symphony/
May 11, 1812: The Assassination of Spencer Perceval
PM Spencer Perceval(Posthumous portrait by G. F. Joseph, 1812) Today, May 11, is the anniversary of the only assassination of a British Prime Minister. On May 11, 1812 at about 5:15 in the evening, British Prime Minister Spencer Perceval was fatally shot in the lobby of the House of Commons in London. He is the only prime … Continue reading May 11, 1812: The Assassination of Spencer Perceval
Austen Authors – Neurodiversity and Mr. Darcy
I've wondered for a while if Jane Austen's character Mr. Darcy was based on someone she knew who was on the autism spectrum. Read on for some of my thoughts on the subject. https://www.austenauthors.net/neurodiversity-and-mr-darcy