More Books Begging to be Read

A family emergency has occupied all my time this week, and so I can offer you only something which appears as well on my website--my list of favourite research books.

One of the joys of writing historical fiction is the historical research it requires.

I write about the Regency because I love to read about the Regency, in fiction and non-fiction.

Here I list some of my favourite research books in the hope that they will enhance your Regency romance reading experience.

There are many books about the Regent of the 'Regency', and his times.
These titles are good starting points:

George IV: Inspiration of the Regency

Steven Parissien hc, St. Martin's Press, 2001

The Prince of Pleasure and his Regency 1811-20 by

J. B. Priestley Sphere Books, trade pbk, 1971

George IV: Regent and King 1811-1830 by

Christopher Hibbert hc, Allen Lane, 1975

More general history of the period and some original accounts are found in:

Years of Victory 1802-1812 by Arthur Bryant
London, Collins, 1945 hc

The Age of Elegance 1812-1822 by Arthur Bryant
London, Collins, 1950 hc

The Rise and Fall of a Regency Dandy:
The Life and Times of Scrope Berdmore Davies by T.A.J. Burnett
ISBN 0-19-285124-1 pbk Oxford University Press

A Residence at the Court of London by Richard Rush
ISBN 0-7126-1780-9 pbk Century Hutchinson

Voices from the World of Jane Austen by Malcolm Day
ISBN 0-7153-2379-2 hc David & Charles Limited

Captain Gronow: His Reminiscences of Regency and Victorian Life 1810-60
ed. by Christopher Hibbert
ISBN 1-85626-013-5 hc Kyle Cathie Limited 1991, many other editions available

Regency Etiquette: The Mirror of Graces (1811) or The English Lady's Costume
by a Lady of Distinction
ISBN 0-914-46-24-1 pbk R. L. Shep Publications 1997

The Miseries of Human Life by James Beresford
originally published 1806, many editions

Our Village by Mary Russell Mitford
originally published 1821, many editions

Diary of a Country Parson by James Woodforde
originally published ?, many editions

For views of the Regency world, try:

Britain Portrayed: A Regency Album 1780-1830 by John Barr
0-7123-0174-7, hc, 1989, The British Library

Regency England: The Great Age of the Colour Print
by Reay Tannahill, The Folio Society Limited, 1964 hc.

Mrs. Hurst Dancing and Other Scenes from Regency Life 1812-1823
by Gordon Mingay with original watercolours by Diana Sperling.
ISBN 0-575-03035-6 hc London, Victor Gollancz Ltd., 1981

Life 'below stairs' is well documented:

The Complete Servant: Regency life below stairs
by Samuel & Sarah Adams, Butler & Housekeeper
1-870962-09-5 trade pbk, 1993, Southover Press

The Housekeeping Book of Susanna Whatman
ISBN 0-7126-1755-8 National Trust Classics


About Regency Architecture and Design:

Masterpieces of Wedgwood by Aileen Dawson
ISBN 0-7141-0531-7 pbk British Museum 1995

Design and the Decorative Arts: Georgian Britain 1714-1837 by Michael Snodin and John Styles
ISBN 0-8109-6618-2 V&A Abrams 2004

Architectural Drawings of the Regency Period: 1790-1837 by Giles Worsley
ISBN 1-55835-044-6 hc Americn Instit. of Architects Press

London's Georgian Houses by Andrew Byrne
ISBN 0-9511459-0-8 pbk The Georgian Press

Georgian and Regency Houses Explained by Trevor Yorke
ISBN 978-1-84674-051-0 pbk England's Living History Series/Countryside Books 2007

About the Napoleonic Wars:

Die Hard! Dramatic Actions from the Napoleonic Wars
by Philip J. Haythornthwaite

ISBN 1-85409-447-5 pbk Arms & Armour Press/Cassell

Uniforms of Waterloo by Haythornthwaite, Chappell and Cassin-Scott
ISBN 1-85409-394-0 pbk Arms & Armour Press/Cassell

Next week, multi-published author Maureen Mackey will be here blogging about Regency Etiquette. Maureen is a prolific author of Regency romance and romantic suspense. It was while studying English literature and history that she fell in love not only with her future husband but also with 18th century and Regency England. Maureen’s lifelong love of mysteries prompted her passion for writing in that genre as well. When she’s not writing she likes to read, prowl through used book stores, walk her rambunctious Sheltie and spend time with Tom and their two sons. She’s currently working on a time-travel mystery and a Regency novella.

Her most recent Regency romance:

Can anything induce an unrepentant rake to abandon his indulgences and reform himself? Prudence Culpepper doubts her childhood playmate, Lord Harry, is capable of changing his irresponsible ways. But a fire, and a desperate chase through the countryside bring out the best and worst in both of them.


Please join us then!
In haste,

Lesley-Anne