Welcome to the Regency!

Many people I've spoken to are uncertain what the Regency actually was. As a Writer of Regency Romance I'd like to give you a whimsical peek. Just for fun, of course. Would you like to join me as I take a look?

Since I could never do justice to the period in a short article such as this, I'll be content with giving you word-pictures; Images that you must allow to pop into your mind as you read them. Think you can figuratively close your eyes? Good. Here we go!

Jane Austen, Lord Byron

King George III The Prince Regent

Napoleon Bonaparte The Duke of Wellington

Princess Caroline Princess Charlotte

The War of 1812 The Battle of Waterloo

Everyone and every thing I just named all have a common thread; a common denominator, if you will. They all lived--or occurred (the events)--during a time in History known as the Regency.

So what was this thing called a Regency? In 1811, the Prince of Wales, (the future Geo rge IV) was appointed regent, which means acting monarch--in place of his father, the beleaguered, suffering old king, George III--who was very ill and no longer mentally competent to rule. That, in short, is what necessitated the Regency. And until the good king died, in 1820, his son was Regent. (His friends still called him Prinny but don't tell him I told you so.)

Welcome then, to Regency, England. It is anywhere from 1811 to 1820, and if you'll give me just a few minutes, I think you'll discover that you like the place.

Why? For the simple reason that there is no other time in History that was quite like it.

(If you were unfortunate enough to have been born into the lower classes you might not have enjoyed it so well; But for the upper classes of the day, it was a time of extravagant, if not frenetic, living.)

For much of the year, but especially during what was called the season, one's life was filled with pursuits and pleasures such as:

B alls and Card-parties

Making house calls in carriages, and having them returned

Leaving your card and collecting the cards of others

Cabriolets and Landaus, Coaches and Curricles

Butlers and Housekeepers, Parlour maids and Postillions

Fashion and Fops; Dandies and Originals

Artists and Aristocrats

Royalty and Romances

Suppers and Soirees, Illuminations and Exhibitions

Concerts and Cotillions

Muslins and Milliners

Tailors and Turbans

Clubs and Coffee-houses

Uniforms and Regiments

Carlton House and White's

Getting a picture? Want some more?

Duels and Seconds

Hessians and Half-boots

Curtseys and Bows

Dowagers and Dukes

Bonnets and Ballr ooms

White gloves and Glass Slippers (no, no, no, just kidding!)

Colonels and Coronets

Hatpins and Ribbons

This really is fun! I'd like to continue, but I hope you've had a taste, (if ever so elusive) of the flavour of the Regency. To get a more in-depth feel for what it was, I commend you to books. For research, there are many. For fun and curiosity's sake, there are--what else?--Romances.(You knew I'd get to that sooner or later, didn't you? And this, I believe, is my cue to curtsey my way out!)

The Regency? You've got to love it!

Linore Rose Burkard is the author of the ground-breaking Inspirational Regency Romance, Before the Season Ends. She runs monthly specials on her books from her website, where you can also sign up for her FREE eZine, Upon My Word!. Visit her online at or, http://www.LinoreRoseBurkard.com

Author:: Linore Rose Burkard
Keywords:: Regency, History, England, Prince, Romance, Articles, eZine, Fiction, Writing, Writer, Fashion,
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