Georgette Heyer's Regency World

I've been doing research lately; it really is wonderfully enjoyable. I've been searching specific details on the Internet on inheritance, and on costume, and I have been checking maps and investigating different counties of England.

I have also been reading a book that I wish I had been able to consult when I very first began writing Regencies. It is titled "Georgette Heyer's Regency World" and it is written by Jennifer Kloester. The book was published in 2005 by Heinemann through Random House Group.

It is invaluable. If you can only buy one book for either research purposes or simply for background material to your reading of Jane Austen and Regency romances, this should be it. The book covers the basics in all aspects of Regency life with chapters such as "Getting About", "At Home in Town and Country" and "The Sporting Life". As well it has chapters on clothing, food and people. The information is tied into Georgette Heyer's work, but not excessively so. You have neither to read, nor have read, Georgette Heyer's books to appreciate the material presented.

Information is offered clearly, concisely, and in an entertaining manner. I can't guarantee that every fact is correct, but I have not seen any major errors in my reading of it. The illustrations, by Graeme Tavendale, that accompany the text are delightful with a woodcut feel to them. The 'Who's Who in the Regency' at the end of the book is a series of fascinating pocket biographies.

As you can tell, I can't recommend this book highly enough.

I hope you'll check out my website at the end of August. There will be a new short story posted titled "The Portrait". It's not really a story so much as the rather surprising musings of a woman of fashion. Also there will be new colouring pictures in the Regency Colouring Book and details about the November 14 release of "The Education of Portia".
And of course a new contest!

Till then,
Lesley-Anne

The Lost Memoirs of Jane Austen

Now that "The Education of Portia" is finished, I have a little more time for reading, gardening and sewing--and planning my next novel.

Reading is the number one priority however, and I have been doing lots of it. A book I just finished is "The Lost Memoirs of Jane Austen" by Syrie James. It is a novel that offers, according to the back cover blurb, "...a delightfully possible scenario for the inspiration behind this beloved author's romantic tales."

The book is a very enjoyable read. The author has found a believable voice for Jane Austen, though not perhaps as tart as the real woman's tongue. Her lost romance, which we suspect happened but cannot be certain of, comes to life in this telling.

The author's attempts--via a fictitious editor and an 'editor's forward'--to convince us that this memoir is real and its discovery a modern miracle are rather heavy-handed. It is not necessary, in my opinion, to be convinced that the memoir is 'true' and factual to enjoy the story. Nevertheless her description of the supposed wonderful discovery and its meaning for scholarship has a certain charm.

The book would still entertain without the self-conscious intrigue and manipulation. Particularly entertaining is the author's insertion of some scenes from Austen's novels into her supposed real life. Austen supposedly then uses these actual occurrences of her life, in her novels. That's confusing, isn't it? I don't think I can explain it better, though I am a writer. You will have to read the book to understand what I mean :)

Syrie James has cultivated a convincing Regency voice, with only one error that leaped out at me--she used the word 'vest' when she meant 'waistcoat'. A classic mistake, one made by many authors in the past, and something that would go unnoticed by most North American readers.

I wish that the tale spun in the foreward was true; that we could find some mythical cache of Jane Austen documents, or those letters that Cassandra burned. It is unlikely ever to happen however, so it is pleasant to explore what Jane Austen might have done and thought during those missing years of her history. And Mr. Ashford is a hero worthy of her, which is all any woman can ask for.

Good summer reading -- let me know what you think of it!

New Contest on www.lesleyannemcleod.com

Regency romance number seven--The Education of Portia--is finished! I sent it to my editor a couple of days ago, and I was even ahead of schedule by a week. I'm glad it's done; now I can do all the things that I've been putting off because of lack of time!

Shakoriel is working on the cover for Portia. It's going to be really great--the hero and heroine are often at loggerheads and Shakoriel has captured that perfectly. I can't wait to display the cover.

I have a new contest on my website. I am giving away a paperback copy of Georgette Heyer's great Regency novel, Venetia. You can see the book at www.lesleyannemcleod.com/contest.html Venetia is one of my all-time favourites; if you haven't read it, you are in for a treat. Please sign the guestbook at my website www.lesleyannemcleod.com to be entered for the prize draw.

Shakoriel has done another Regency fashion colouring picture for the colouring book. There are four pictures now; we are aiming for twenty. I am going to post my own coloured versions so you can see how they can look. We are talking of doing a paper doll as well--paper dolls are another of my passions.

I have finished another book trailer; it's for my 'Novel Byte' from Uncial Press titled Comet Wine. You can view the trailer on my youtube page at http://www.youtube.com/regencylady or on the Comet Wine page on my website at http://www.lesleyannemcleod.com/novelettescometwine.html

I'm also catching up with reading now that I am finished The Education of Portia. Next time I'll report on a couple of Regency books I'm enjoying.